DURHAM – Drug giant Pfizer Inc. (NYSE: PFE) is acquiring Durham-based antiviral biopharma ReViral in a deal worth as much as $525 million, the companies announced early Thursday.
ReViral has dual headquarters, the other being in London.
Pfizer noted that ReViral is “focused on discovering, developing, and commercializing novel antiviral therapeutics that target respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).”
RSV is a respiratory pathogen that can lead to severe and life-threatening lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs) in high-risk populations, such as infants, immunocompromised patients, and the elderly.
The US-Based National Institute of Health (NIH) estimates that, globally, RSV affects approximately 64 million people and causes approximately 160,000 deaths each year.
In the United States, nearly all children become infected with RSV by age 2, with 75,000 to 125,000 of them hospitalized each year.
Currently, there are no effective therapeutic treatment options for patients who develop RSV infection.
Founded in 2011, ReViral’s lead product candidate, sisunatovir, is an orally administered fusion inhibitor currently being evaluated in two global Phase 2 clinical studies: one in a pediatric patient population and the other in an adult stem-cell transplant patient population.
In addition, the company has an N-protein replication inhibitor program in late preclinical development. Both programs were discovered in-house and the company has retained worldwide development and commercialization rights.
“At Pfizer, we have a strong heritage in, and commitment to, fighting infectious diseases, most recently evidenced by our delivery of the first authorized vaccine and oral therapy to combat COVID-19,” said Albert Bourla, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Pfizer, in a statement. “We’re continuing to grow our pipeline – through our own research-and-development efforts, such as our investigational RSV vaccine programs, as well as strategic investments in companies like ReViral – with a focus on end-to-end capabilities to help protect patients from severe illness, hospitalization, and death.”
Sisunatovir has been granted Fast Track designation by the US FDA.
“Since the foundation of the company a decade ago by Dr. Ken Powell and Dr. Stuart Cockerill, ReViral’s mission has always been to develop world-class therapies for RSV patients,” said Alex C. Sapir, CEO of ReViral. “This acquisition represents a validation of the deep antiviral experience of the ReViral team and our unwavering commitment to deliver therapies for patients in need. Pfizer is an optimal partner given their commitment to RSV through their ongoing RSV vaccine program, coupled with their world-class clinical, regulatory, manufacturing and commercial capabilities. We look forward to working with our colleagues at Pfizer to bring these therapies to patients as quickly as possible.”
