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Genfit To Pick Up Second Liver Failure Candidate In €40m Versantis Buyout

 
• By Joseph Haas

Focused on rare liver diseases such as acute-on-chronic liver failure following its 2020 disappointment in NASH, Genfit looks to become sector leader in ACLF and other indications such as hepatic encephalopathy.

Business deal (Genfit/Versantis)
In Genfit's third deal since December, it adds second ACLF candidate • Source: Shutterstock

Genfit SA took a significant step into its post-non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) future on 19 September, announcing that it will acquire privately held Versantis AG in a deal enabling it to develop potentially two mid-stage clinical candidates in acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF), an unmet medical need with high mortality.

The French biotech, which has been repositioning itself since a high-profile Phase III failure of lead candidate elafibranor in NASH in July 2020, agreed to pay €40m (about $41.5m) up front for Versantis, with potential for up to €65m tagged to clinical development milestones, plus other financial considerations

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