1. In Vivo
  2. >>Business Strategy

Sirtris Satisfies GSK's M&A Appetite

Pathway-oriented platforms are rare, and dealmaking around them can be complicated: partner too early or for too little and you risk giving away the store. But Sirtris pulled it off, via M&A, when GSK tendered a whopping $720 million for it in April. The deal is another example of Pharma's interest in platform biotechs and its hunger for innovation. But the unique nature of Sirtris's platform -- broad, but around a single set of biological targets -- makes it more one-off than trend-setting.

by Mark L. Ratner

Sirtris Pharmaceuticals Inc. is a company known for its overt--and, with hindsight--shrewd marketing of its sirtuin science, a biology around a class of enzymes that are thought to play a role in the aging process. Last November, we wrote that "it’ll be interesting to see if the momentum lasts as it approaches the challenges of later-stage clinical trials." ("Sirtris Strikes Again," The IN VIVO Blog, November 28, 2007.) We’ll never know

Read the full article – start your free trial today!

Join thousands of industry professionals who rely on In Vivo for daily insights

  • Start your 7-day free trial
  • Explore trusted news, analysis, and insights
  • Access comprehensive global coverage
  • Enjoy instant access – no credit card required
Start Free Trial

Already a subscriber?

More from Business Strategy

Is Advanced AI Revolutionizing Sales Enablement In Pharma?

 
• By Marina Hickson

Advanced AI is revolutionizing sales enablement by addressing training gaps and performance challenges. Used correctly, it can help to bridge the sales-marketing divide, accelerate ramp-up times and provide managers with data-driven insights.

Laying The Foundation And Overcoming Prerequisites To Establish AI Within Health Care

 
• By Mike King

As the health care industry undergoes a digital transformation, the integration of AI into Quality and Regulatory Management Systems is proving essential. The challenges for successful AI deployment emphasize the need for robust digital infrastructure, data literacy programs and privacy measures to enhance patient safety and commercial performance.

Aurion Biotech’s Ophthalmic Cell Therapy For The Masses

 
• By David Wild

Aurion Biotech is developing a cell therapy for corneal diseases that is cheap enough to produce and can be scaled that it should reach the masses in a way that other cell therapies cannot.

Neurodegenerative Disease Investment: Shifting Paradigms Beyond Amyloid And Tau

 
• By David Wild

Companies are exploring new mechanisms of action beyond traditional amyloid and tau and both investors and big pharma are willing to make deals when the science is compelling, panelists at Biotech Showcase said.

More from In Vivo

Unpacking The Impact Of Trump’s Tariffs On Drug Pricing And Production

 
• By Ed Silverman

Big pharma plans to invest billions of dollars in US manufacturing to avoid tariffs proposed by the Trump Administration. However, the implementation of these plans may be delayed due to regulatory complexities and rising costs from tariffs, potentially impacting drug prices for consumers.

Top-Selling Drugs 2024: Keytruda, Ozempic And Dupixent Dominate

 
• By Eleanor Malone

Merck’s immuno-oncology blockbuster was the world’s best-selling drugs by revenues for the second year in a row, with an almost $12bn lead over its closest rival, Novo Nordisk’s GLP-1 drug Ozempic.

Rising Leaders 2025: Christina Ziegenberg On Keeping Medtechs Competitive And MDR Compliant

 
• By Ashley Yeo

Good medical device regulation brings balance and builds bridges between healthcare stakeholders. It also accords equal priority to innovation and patient safety. A zero-risk policy cannot achieve these goals, says Christina Ziegenberg, BVMed’s head of regulatory affairs of six years.