RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK – The biopharmaceutical company Aceragen, which is backed by NovaQuest Capital Management, announced that it has acquired Arrevus, Inc., a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company that was also based in Raleigh.

The acquisition was called a “major step forward” by John Taylor, president and CEO of Aceragen in a statement.

Talyor noted that the addition of Arrevus’ clinical capabilities and the lead program that is currently in late-stage development would advance the copmpanies “transition to a diversified, rare-disease-focused biotech company with an amazing growth trajectory.

The company intends to advance its strategy of building what it called a “multi-product commercial rare disease company.”

According to the company, the portfolio of therapies will now include ones that target Farber disease, Cystic Fibrosis, and orphan infectious diseases.

The company noted that registrational trial for its Faber disease therapy, ACG-801, is planned for the second half of 2022, as is the Phase 2/3 trial for ACG-721, which focuses on cystic fibrosis pulmonary exacerbations.

The Arrevus team will join the company, according to a statement by Carl Kraus, M.D., the president and CEO of Arrevus, who has joined Aceragen as Chief Medical Officer.  Arrevus landed $800,000 in grants in 2020 to investigate treatments for sepsis.

Aceragen was founded in Jan. 2021.