Novartis bolsters innovative dermatology portfolio through acquisition of Ziarco Group Limited
Acquisition to add a once-daily oral H4 receptor antagonist, ZPL389, to treat atopic dermatitis, commonly known as eczema, to the Novartis industry-leading pipeline . Investigational ZPL389 showed a clinically and statistically significant improvement of eczema lesions, leading to a 50% reduction in EASI score compared to placebo after eight weeks of treatment with a favorable safety profile - Eczema is a chronic, inflammatory skin condition affecting millions of children and adults worldwide with an unmet need for effective and safe oral treatments - Novartis announced today that it has entered into a definitive agreement for the acquisition of Ziarco Group Limited, a privately held company focused on the development of novel treatments in dermatology. This acquisition would add a once-daily oral H4 receptor antagonist in development for atopic dermatitis (AD), commonly known as eczema, to complement the growing Novartis dermatology portfolio and pipeline. The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory approval. The financial details of this transaction are not disclosed. Ziarco's lead investigational product, ZPL389, is a potential first-in-class oral treatment for moderate-to-severe eczema. Eczema is a chronic, itchy, inflammatory skin condition found in millions of children and adults worldwide.
