ViroPharma inks $164M deal to buy orphan drug biotech

Exton, PA-based ViroPharma has forged a deal to buy Sweden's DuoCort Pharma for $33.6 million in cash and a package of $131 million in milestones, provided it can win EC approval of Plenadren, a orphan treatment for adrenal insufficiency. The deal is designed to expand ViroPharma's orphan drug portfolio without adding a lot of risk to the books. The drug is up for a formal EC decision by the end of this year. "Plenadren will be an important drug for patients with Addison's disease and other chronic adrenal insufficiencies, and is the first new drug in this therapeutic area in over 50 years," said Vincent Milano. Release