Sobi has entered into an agreement to acquire Arthrosi Therapeutics, a private late-stage biotechnology company specialising in the development of a treatment for gout.
The acquisition will strengthen Sobi’s gout portfolio, bringing with it pozdeutinurad (AR882), an investigational once-daily oral urate transporter 1 (URAT1) inhibitor. Pozdeutinurad is currently being evaluated in two global phase 3 studies, with results expected in 2026. It is intended for the treatment of progressive and tophaceous gout.
Gout is the most common form of inflammatory arthritis. It is caused by high levels of uric acid in the body that, if accumulated around the joints and other tissues, can result in painful flares. Untreated gout can cause chronic joint damage and other serious issues.
The terms of the agreement state that Sobi will pay $950m in cash to acquire Arthrosi, as well as up to $550m in cash in clinical, regulatory and sales milestones.
Sobi is an international biopharmaceutical company focusing on the treatment of rare diseases.
“The acquisition of Arthrosi allows us to expand our gout pipeline with a highly differentiated new asset. Pozdeutinurad has the potential to become the therapy of choice for patients who have progressive gout with persistent and unresolved symptoms despite first-line therapy,” commented Guido Oelkers, president and CEO of Sobi.
