Gilead Sciences acquires liver disease programme from Phenex

Gilead Sciences has announced the acquisition of a liver disease research programme developed by Phenex Pharmaceuticals.

The deal is worth up to $470 million (310.39 million pounds) and will see Gilead purchase Phenex's farnesoid X receptor (FXR) programme, comprising small molecule FXR agonists for the treatment of liver diseases such as nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH).

Estimated to affect between ten and 20 percent of people in the developed world, NASH is a common chronic liver disease associated with inflammation and excessive fat accumulation. It can lead to progressive fibrosis, cirrhosis and liver failure if left unchecked.

After 15 years of research, FXR is now one of the few clinically validated targets for NASH, a disease for which there are currently no approved treatments.

Dr Norbert Bischofberger, Gilead's executive vice-president for research and development and chief scientific officer, said: "The acquisition of Phenex's FXR programme represents an important opportunity to accelerate Gilead's efforts to develop new treatment options that address fibrotic liver diseases."

Last month, the company announced that it will be working with Janssen to jointly develop a treatment for HIV, while it will also partner with ONO Pharmaceutical on the creation of a therapy for B-cell malignancies and other diseases.