Shire to acquire Pervasis Therapeutics assets

Shire is bolstering its regenerative medicines portfolio after agreeing a deal to buy key products and technology from Pervasis Therapeutics.

The company has signed an agreement to acquire substantially all the assets of Pervasis, including its endothelial cell technology platform and Vascugel, a vascular repair system that can improve haemodialysis access for end-stage renal disease patients.

Following the buyout, Shire will focus on completing a phase II development programme for this product, while the deal will also allow the firm to benefit from a new technology relationship with the world-leading scientist Dr Elazer Edelman.

The acquisition complements the business' 2011 buyout of Advanced BioHealing, with Vascugel also offering a strong strategic fit with Shire's existing Dermagraft product.

Kevin Rakin, president for regenerative medicine at Shire, said: "This acquisition marks a very important step for Shire in building a regenerative medicine business focused on tissue repair and regeneration."

This comes after the company purchased rights to a new treatment for central nervous system disorders from Heptares Therapeutics last month.