Bexicaserin

Lundbeck and Longboard Pharmaceuticals have announced an agreement for the Danish pharmaceutical company to acquire all outstanding shares of Longboard, in a transaction valued at $2.6 billion in equity value. The transaction is expected to close by the end of the year. The deal will give Lundbeck ownership over Longboard’s pipeline of drug candidates for neurological and rare diseases. The lead asset, bexicaserin, is in late-stage development for the treatment of developmental and epileptic encephalopathies (DEEs), a group of severe epilepsies with onset in early childhood that affect over 220,000 people in the US alone. “This transformative transaction will become a cornerstone in Lundbeck’s neuro-rare franchise, with a potential to drive growth into the next decade. Bexicaserin addresses a critical unmet need for patients suffering from rare and severe epilepsies, for which there are very few good treatment options available," said Charl van Zyl, President and CEO of Lundbeck. The acquisition of Longboard will expand Lundbeck’s drug development pipeline, which focuses exclusively on therapeutic products for brain diseases, ranging from migraines to Parkinson’s. In particular, Longboard’s small molecule drug candidates are designed to selectively target G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), the most successful class of druggable targets in the human genome. In September this year, Longboard initiated a phase 3 clinical trial evaluating its lead asset, bexicaserin, for the treatment of seizures associated with Dravet syndrome. googletag.cmd.push(function () { googletag.display('text-ad1'); }); Cleveland Clinic describes Dravet syndrome as a rare type of epilepsy. Seizures usually start in the first year of a child’s life. In addition to frequent and varied seizures, children will experience lags in mental and physical development, with the possibility of many other symptoms. Medications help reduce the number and severity of symptoms. Bexicaserin is an oral drug candidate with a next-generation super-agonist mechanism that targets 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) 2C receptors, a type of serotonin receptors that are linked to epilepsy. The drug candidate has a differentiated mechanism of action that targets 5-HT 2C ​ specifically, without impacting other 5-HT receptor subtypes such as 5-HT 2A ​ and 5-HT 2B ​. In preclinical and clinical studies, Bexicaserin has shown anti-seizure effects, with a best-in-class profile in Dravet syndrome, Lennox-Gastaut syndrome and other DEEs. The drug has blockbuster potential in this area of high unmet need, with global peak sales expected to be as high as $2 billion. “Longboard was founded to transform the lives of people living with devastating neurological conditions,” stated Kevin R. Lind, President and Chief Executive Officer of Longboard. “Lundbeck’s remarkable capabilities will accelerate our vision to provide increased equity and access for underserved DEE patients with significant unmet medical needs.”

Lundbeck’s acquisition of Longboard Pharmaceuticals aims to bolster its neuro-rare conditions portfolio with the addition of bexicaserin. Credit: UnderhilStudio/Shutterstock. Lundbeck has signed an agreement to acquire Longboard Pharmaceuticals for $2.6bn equity value in a move set to enhance its capabilities within neuro-rare conditions. Lundbeck has initiated a tender offer for all outstanding shares of Longboard’s common stock. The transaction holds a net value of $2.5bn, calculated on a fully diluted basis. The acquisition is aligned with Lundbeck’s focused innovator strategy, marking a significant advancement by adding Longboard’s lead asset bexicaserin, which addresses developmental and epileptic encephalopathies (DEEs). The product is currently under evaluation in a global Phase III clinical programme known as DEEp SEA, which includes patients diagnosed with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome, Dravet syndrome and other DEE syndromes. See Also: Bayer applies for EU approval of menopause drug elinzanetant ENHERTU gains conditional approval in China to treat NSCLC Lundbeck president and CEO Charl van Zyl stated: “This transformative transaction will become a cornerstone in Lundbeck’s neuro-rare franchise, with a potential to drive growth into the next decade. Bexicaserin addresses a critical unmet need for patients suffering from rare and severe epilepsies, for which there are very few good treatment options available.” Longboard president and CEO Kevin Lind said: “I would like to thank the entire DEE community, in particular bexicaserin’s study participants and their caregivers as well as the advocacy groups, investigators, sites and coordinators for their support and partnership. “Lundbeck’s remarkable capabilities will accelerate our vision to provide increased equity and access for underserved DEE patients with significant unmet medical needs.” The boards of directors of both Lundbeck and Longboard have given unanimous approval for the transaction. The expected closure of the deal is in the fourth quarter of 2024, contingent upon the tender of at least a majority of the total number of the outstanding voting shares of Longboard, along with the receipt of regulatory approvals and fulfilment of other customary conditions. In March 2024, Lundbeck and Otsuka Pharmaceuticals Europe’s Abilify Maintena received EU approval for treating schizophrenia.