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Omeros Stock Skyrockets After Novo Nordisk Strikes $2.1B Rare Disease Drug Deal
Benzingaยท2025-10-15 18:58

Core Insights - Biotech breakthroughs are transforming the pharmaceutical industry, leading to significant deals and advancements in rare disease treatments [1] - Omeros Corporation's stock is experiencing a substantial increase due to a new agreement with Novo Nordisk regarding the drug zaltenibart [1][7] Group 1: Agreement Details - Novo Nordisk has acquired exclusive global rights to develop and commercialize zaltenibart for all indications [2] - Omeros stands to receive $340 million in upfront and near-term milestone payments, with a total potential of up to $2.1 billion including development and commercial milestones, plus tiered royalties on net sales [2] - Zaltenibart is designed to inhibit MASP-3, a protein that activates the complement system's alternative pathway, which is implicated in several rare diseases [2][3] Group 2: Clinical Development - Omeros has reported positive phase 2 data for zaltenibart in treating paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH), a rare blood disorder [4] - Novo Nordisk plans to initiate a global phase 3 program for zaltenibart in PNH and explore its development in other rare blood and kidney disorders [5] Group 3: Company Actions - Omeros retains rights to its preclinical MASP-3 programs unrelated to zaltenibart, including the development of small-molecule MASP-3 inhibitors with limited indication restrictions [5] - Novo Nordisk is reportedly initiating layoffs in the United States across various departments, which may impact its operational capacity [6]