Roche Digs Into Obesity-Tied Diseases With $3.5 Billion 89bio Buyout

Acquisition and Market Impact - Roche has agreed to acquire 89bio, a small biotech company, in a deal valued at up to $3.5 billion, which has led to a nearly doubling of 89bio's shares [1][2] - The acquisition highlights Roche's strategic move into the metabolic disorders sector, following previous collaborations and acquisitions aimed at obesity treatments [2] Product Potential - 89bio is developing a drug called pegozafermin, which targets metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), a significant comorbidity linked to obesity, type 2 diabetes, and high blood pressure [1][3] - Roche's CEO expressed optimism about pegozafermin's potential to be a transformative treatment for MASH, addressing diverse patient needs associated with this complex disease [3] Market Reactions - Following the acquisition announcement, shares of 89bio surged approximately 86% in premarket trading, reaching a price of 15, while Roche's stock remained stable [3]