Words by GOLD newsdesk
Jazz Pharmaceuticals is set to acquire Chimerix, a biotechnology company developing oncology therapies and others for a deal size of approximately $935m set to close in Q2 2025.
The acquisition adds Chimerix’s dordaviprone – a first-in-class small molecule therapy in development for H3 K27M-mutant diffuse glioma, an aggressive and rare childhood brain tumour – to Jazz’s pipeline. Currently, no treatments have been approved by the FDA to specifically target this mutation, with radiation remaining the primary treatment option.
“If approved, dordaviprone has the potential to rapidly become a standard of care for a rare oncology disease and also contribute durable revenue beginning in the near-term,” commented Bruce Cozadd, Chairman and CEO, Jazz Pharmaceuticals. He went on to add that he looked forward to leveraging the combined R&D and commercial expertise of Jazz and Chimerix to bring the novel therapy to patients, potentially as early as later this year.
The treatment has already been accepted by the FDA for a New Drug Application, which has been granted Priority Review with a Prescription Drug User Fee Act target action date of 18 August 2025. If approved, the drug might also qualify for a Rare Pediatric Disease Priority Review Voucher, an incentive offered by the FDA to drug developers who successfully bring a treatment to market for a rare paediatric disease, allowing them to receive expedited review for a different drug application they submit in the future.
Also commenting in the press release, Mike Andriole, President and CEO, Chimerix, said: “We are excited to reach this agreement with Jazz Pharmaceuticals as they bring global scale to broaden our dordaviprone commercial strategy.”
The transaction remains subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory approvals.
