Alexion Buys A Complementary Business With Achillion

The company agreed to pay $930m up front to acquire Achillion, which has two drugs in Phase II development for complement alternative pathway-mediated rare diseases.

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Alexion has found a business match in Achillion • Source: Shutterstock

Alexion Pharmaceuticals Inc.'s acquisition of Achillion Pharmaceuticals Inc. will add two clinical-stage drugs that will build on Alexion's own expertise in complement alternative pathway-mediated rare diseases. Achillion is developing oral small molecule Factor D inhibitors for diseases like paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH), where Alexion is the current market leader with its C5 inhibitor Soliris (eculizumab) and second-generation drug Ultomiris (ravulizumab).

"The addition of clinical-stage oral Factor D inhibitors that have potential to advance the standard of care for multiple rare, complement-mediated diseases provides an opportunity to diversify our complement portfolio beyond C5," CEO Ludwig Hantson said during a call

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