AstraZeneca is splashing out $800 million upfront to bolster its rare disease pipeline with the purchase of Amolyt Pharma and its Phase III asset for chronic hypoparathyroidism.Marc Dunoyer, chief executive of AstraZeneca’s rare-disease unit Alexion, noted that patients with chronic hypoparathyroidism “face a significant need for an alternative to current supportive therapies,” with Amolyt’s eneboparatide holding “the potential to lessen the often debilitating impact of low parathyroid hormone and avoid the risks of high-dose calcium supplementation.”Eneboparatide – also known as AZP-3601 – is a PTH receptor 1 agonist that in Phase II studies has shown the ability to achieve normalisation of serum calcium levels, as well as the potential to eliminate dependence on daily calcium and vitamin D supplementation. AstraZeneca noted that in adults with chronic hypoparathyroidism and hypercalciuria, eneboparatide normalised calcium in urine, while it also preserved bone mineral density.According to Amolyt’s website, its pipeline also includes AZP-3813 for acromegaly - with initial Phase I results expected later this year - and the preclinical candidate AZP-40XX for primary hyperparathyroidism and humoral hypercalcemia of malignancy.Along with the upfront payment, Amolyt shareholders are eligible to receive an additional $250 million payable upon achievement of a specified regulatory milestone. The acquisition is expected to close by the end of the third quarter.
