Pfizer buys Metsera for USD 7.3 billion to re-enter obesity drug race
Make us a preferred source
Make us a preferred source on Google
The news: Pfizer will acquire drug developer Metsera for up to USD 7.3 billion ($11.1 billion), as it seeks to re-establish a position in the booming obesity drug market after the failure of its own weight-loss pill.
The numbers: The deal includes USD 47.50 per share in cash and up to USD 22.50 per share in future payments tied to clinical and regulatory milestones.
The context: The deal, expected to close by the end of 2025, comes after Pfizer scrapped its own lead obesity pill, danuglipron, in April following a trial safety issue.
Metsera brings a portfolio of experimental obesity drugs, including MET-233i, an analogue of the appetite-regulating hormone amylin that helped patients lose up to 8.4% of their weight in 36 days in an early-stage study.
Pfizer said the proposed acquisition aligns with its focus on directing investments to high-impact opportunities. It will also position it in the fast-growing obesity drug market, which is projected to reach up to USD 150 billion by the early 2030s.
Analysts at Leerink Partners estimate Metsera’s pipeline could generate more than USD 5 billion in combined peak sales.
The sources: Joint media release, Reuters , The Wall Street Journal
