REG - GSK PLC - GSK completes acquisition of efimosfermin for SLD

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RNS Number : 0290Q  GSK PLC  07 July 2025

Issued: 7 July 2025, London UK

 

GSK completes acquisition of efimosfermin, a potential best-in-class specialty
medicine to treat and prevent progression of steatotic liver disease (SLD)

 

 

GSK plc (LSE/NYSE: GSK) today announced the completion of its previously
announced
(https://www.gsk.com/en-gb/media/press-releases/gsk-to-acquire-efimosfermin-a-phase-iii-ready-potential-best-in-class-specialty-medicine-to-treat-and-prevent-progression-of-steatotic-liver-disease-sld/)
acquisition of efimosfermin alfa from Boston Pharmaceuticals. Efimosfermin is
a phase III-ready, potential best-in-class investigational specialty medicine
aimed at treating and preventing the progression of SLD.

 

Efimosfermin is a novel, once-monthly fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21)
analog therapeutic in clinical development for the treatment of metabolic
dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), including cirrhosis, and future
development in alcohol-related liver disease (ALD), both forms of SLD.
Currently, MASH and ALD have limited treatment options and are the leading
causes of liver transplant in the US, representing a significant burden and
cost on healthcare utilisation.(1)

 

GSK, based on its work in human genetics and disease phenotyping, believes
efimosfermin has potential to address more advanced stages of SLD due to its
direct antifibrotic mechanism of action, and sees opportunity in combination
with GSK'990, a siRNA therapeutic in development for other subsets of patients
with SLD.

 

Kaivan Khavandi, SVP & Global Head, Respiratory, Immunology &
Inflammation R&D, GSK said: "The close of our acquisition for efimosfermin
alfa represents a significant expansion of our hepatology pipeline aimed at
addressing steatotic and viral drivers of liver disease. Efimosfermin is a key
growth opportunity for GSK with multiple development options and potential
first launch in 2029. We look forward to unlocking the potential of this
medicine for patients."

 

GSK is driving innovation for a range of immune-mediated conditions by
harnessing the science of the immune system and advanced technologies. The
addition of efimosfermin further expands GSK's pipeline to address fibro
inflammatory diseases in liver, lung and kidney, a key focus for the company.

 

Financial considerations

GSK has acquired BP Asset IX, Inc., a subsidiary of Boston Pharmaceuticals, to
access efimosfermin. The total cash consideration for this acquisition amounts
to up to $2 billion, comprising an upfront payment of $1.2 billion and up to
$800 million in success-based milestone payments. GSK will also be responsible
for success-based milestone payments as well as tiered royalties for
efimosfermin owed to Novartis Pharma AG.

 

About efimosfermin alfa

Efimosfermin is an investigational, once-monthly subcutaneous injection of a
long-acting variant of FGF21 that is designed to regulate key metabolic
pathways to decrease liver fat, ameliorate liver inflammation, and reverse
liver fibrosis in patients with MASH. Efimosfermin is currently in trials for
moderate to advanced fibrosis, including cirrhosis and is not approved
anywhere in the world.

 

About Boston Pharmaceuticals

Boston Pharmaceuticals is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company that
leverages an experienced and committed drug development team to advance a
portfolio of highly differentiated therapies that may address important unmet
medical needs in serious liver diseases. Boston Pharmaceuticals is a
portfolio company of B-Flexion, a private, entrepreneurial investment firm
which manages the combined funds and investments associated with the
Bertarelli family and also partners with sophisticated capital to meet the
shared goal of delivering exceptional value over the generations, while also
contributing positively to society.

 

About GSK research in hepatology

GSK is currently investigating multiple potential treatments for patients with
liver disease, including treatments for chronic hepatitis B, alcohol-related
liver disease (ALD), and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis
(MASH).

 

About GSK

GSK is a global biopharma company with a purpose to unite science, technology,
and talent to get ahead of disease together. Find out more at gsk.com.

 

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Cautionary statement regarding forward-looking statements

GSK cautions investors that any forward-looking statements or projections made
by GSK, including those made in this announcement, are subject to risks and
uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those
projected. Such factors include, but are not limited to, those described in
the "Risk Factors" section in GSK's Annual Report on Form 20-F for 2024, and
GSK's Q1 Results for 2025.

 

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References

1 Younossi et al. Hepatol Commun. 2023 Dec 22;8(1):e0352

 

 

 

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