Sobi Realigns Focus On Late-Stage Hematology & Immunology Assets

Swedish Orphan Biovitrum AB, the Solna, Sweden-based speciality pharma company, is ramping up its immunology focus to build a second significant pillar alongside its hemophilia franchise. Adding to its growing Kineret (anakinra) business and the November 2018 acquisition of US rights to commercialize Synagis (palivizumab) from AstraZeneca PLC, Sobi has now exercised its option to acquire Gamifant (emapalumab) from Novimmune SA (Also see "Novimmune Sells Gamifant And IO Assets To Sobi" - Scrip, 14 June, 2019.)(Also see "Sobi Advances Growth Strategy With Gamifant Launch In Early 2019 For Primary HLH" - Scrip, 21 November, 2018.), as well as employees involved in the clinical and biopharmaceutical development of the program. The consideration is CHF515m ($519m), of which CHF400m had already been committed in the license agreement.

Concurrently, the company has announced that it intends to look for additional on-market and late stage assets, discontinue and divest discovery and early research programs and reallocate R&D resources to late-stage development