Japan’s Astellas Pharma (TYO: 4503) has announced the negotiation of a purchase agreement for US biopharmaceutical company Propella Therapeutics this week, with a transaction value of USD 175 million. The deal is anticipated to be finalized by March 2024, subject to the fulfillment of customary conditions. With this acquisition, Astellas will incorporate Propella’s lead candidate, PRL-02 (abiraterone decanoate), a novel androgen biosynthesis inhibitor currently in Phase I of development for metastatic prostate cancer, with expectations to progress to the next stage in the following year.
Details of the Acquisition
The acquisition of Propella Therapeutics is a strategic move for Astellas Pharma, aimed at enhancing its oncology pipeline. PRL-02 is a significant addition, as it represents a new approach to treating metastatic prostate cancer, a disease with significant unmet medical needs.
Propella’s Innovative Platform
Propella’s platform is revolutionary in its approach to drug delivery. It transforms existing drugs with proven efficacy but limited by safety concerns into prodrugs. These prodrugs are designed to be delivered and accumulate at the target tissues before releasing the active ingredient. This innovative method bypasses plasma safety limitations and reduces the potential for harm to the liver, offering a promising advancement in drug development.- Flcube.com