Novo Nordisk to Acquire Hypertension Drug Ocedurenone for $1.3 Billion

　　Cailian Press

Local time on Monday, "weight-loss miracle drug" manufacturer Novo Nordisk announced that it has agreed to acquire Ocedurenone, a hypertension control drug from KBP Biosciences, for up to 1.3 billion US dollars. This acquisition is a continuation of a series of recent transactions by Novo Nordisk to strengthen its drug product line.

This Danish pharmaceutical manufacturer stated that Ocedurenone is an oral medication currently in Phase III clinical trials, applicable for cardiovascular and renal diseases.

Novo Nordisk Executive Vice President and Head of Development Martin Holst Lange pointed out that hypertension is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease, heart failure, chronic kidney disease, and premature death. Given its expected benefit-to-risk ratio, Ocedurenone has first-class potential in treating uncontrolled hypertension and can help address significant medical needs for patients with cardiovascular and chronic kidney diseases.

Novo Nordisk claims that this transaction is closely related to our strategic focus, which is to expand from our core diabetes business to other serious chronic disease areas, including through new drug models. The transaction is expected to be completed by the end of this year.

The company also stated that this transaction will not affect its 2023 operating profit outlook and will fund the acquisition from financial reserves.

This deal is the latest in a series of bolt-on acquisitions by the maker of the blockbuster weight-loss drug Wegovy. Novo Nordisk on Friday raised its sales and profit outlook again, driven by surging demand for its popular weight-loss and diabetes treatments.

Reportedly, Novo Nordisk's diabetes drug Ozempic and weight-loss drug Wegovy have shown significant benefits in reducing heart attacks, strokes, and cardiovascular disease-related deaths, while also demonstrating effectiveness in treating conditions such as addiction and dementia.

Novo Nordisk also stated that it plans to conduct further research on Ocedurenone in other types of heart and kidney diseases.

Camilla Sylvest, Executive Vice President of Commercial Strategy and Corporate Affairs at Novo Nordisk, stated: "We look forward to adding Ocedurenone to our portfolio as it will complement our current development programs in cardiovascular disease and chronic kidney disease."

According to reports, KBP Biosciences is a non-publicly traded company headquartered in Singapore, with offices in Shanghai, China, and Jinan, Shandong, China. KBP Biosciences focuses on the development of small molecule innovative drugs for treating cardiorenal diseases and infectious diseases, and Ocedurenone is the company's most advanced innovative drug.

Regarding this transaction, Dr. Zhenhua Huang, founder of KBP Biosciences, stated that he is delighted to sell Ocedurenone to Novo Nordisk because the company can unlock the full potential of Ocedurenone and benefit more cardiovascular and renal disease patients worldwide.

Editor: Zhou Wei