Genfit swallows Versantis in €105m deal

The acquisition of Swiss Versantis AG expands Genfit’s pipeline with three programmes: the Phase II-ready candidate VS-01-ACLF designed to treat acute-on-chronic liver failure, VS-01-UCD, a pediatric program focused on urea cycle disorder, and VS-02-HE, an early-stage program focused on hepatic encephalopathy. Genfit will pay €40m upfront, €65m in potential milestones and 33% of the net proceeds from the sale of a FDA-Priority Review Voucher worth $100m.

With this acquisition of all shares and voting rights from the Zurich-based R&D specialist, Genfit consolidates its position in ACLF via the integration of VS-01-ACLF. Genfit’s main asset, VS-01, is a first-in-class innovative liposomal-based therapeutic product candidate currently in clinical development as a potential first-line therapy for the timely recovery of ACLF and UCD. ACLF is an underserved medical condition associated with short-term mortality (23% to 74% mortality at 28 days, depending on severity grade) and a significant cost of care. ACLF syndrome is characterized by an abrupt life-threatening worsening of a pre-existing advanced chronic liver disease resulting in liver and extrahepatic organ failure. The cascade of brain, kidney, cardiovascular and respiratory failure, include the development of a neuropsychiatric condition called hepatic encephalopathy (HE).