Incyte adds to pipeline with acquisition of Escient Pharmaceuticals

Key takeaways:

• Incyte is acquiring Escient Pharmaceuticals for $750 million.
• The deal comes with Escient’s pipeline of two oral treatments for a range of diseases.

Incyte and Escient Pharmaceuticals have entered a definitive agreement under which Incyte will acquire Escient for $750 million, the companies announced in a press release.

The deal encompasses Escient’s pipeline which includes two oral treatments: EP262 and EP547.

EP262, a potent, highly selective once-daily small molecule antagonist, is a potential treatment for various mast cell-mediated diseases including atopic dermatitis, chronic inducible urticaria and chronic spontaneous urticaria.

Preclinical trials presented at the American Academy of Dermatology Annual Meeting in March 2023 showed that EP262 improved AD-like skin lesions and markers of type 2 inflammation, according to the press release. A phase 1 study of 64 healthy volunteers also showcased EP262’s safety, with a lower number of adverse events occurring with EP262 than placebo (33.3% vs. 62.5%).

The second treatment, EP547, is another highly selective antagonist that has the potential to treat pruritus associated with liver and kidney disease.

“As a company dedicated to innovation and the discovery of transformative medicines, we are excited to add EP262 and EP547 to our portfolio,” Hervé Hoppenot, CEO of Incyte, said in the release. “This acquisition builds on our strategy to develop differentiated and first-in-class medicines with high potential.”

According to the release, the finalization of this acquisition is anticipated in the third quarter of this year.