Ann Arbor-based Millendo Therapeutics Inc., a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing treatments for endocrine diseases, today announced the acquisition of Alizé Pharma SAS in a stock-based transaction.
Alizé Pharma’s leading drug candidate Livoletide has demonstrated positive results in reducing hyperphagia (insatiable hunger) for patients with Prader-Wili Syndrome (PWS) in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase two clinical trial in 2016. PWS is a rare genetic disease characterized by uncontrollable hunger, which can lead to obesity and its related complications.
The company will operate as Millendo Therapeutics Inc. in the U.S. and Millendo Therapeutics SAS in France and Europe, where it will continue to operate the former Alizé Pharma SAS facilities.
“The acquisition of Alizé Pharma SAS transforms Millendo into an innovative endocrinology company with two first-in-class, late-stage clinical assets and a presence in both the United States and Europe. With Livoletide, we have acquired a promising asset that has demonstrated encouraging efficacy and tolerability in a phase two clinical trial in PWS,” says Julia C. Owens, president and CEO of Millendo Therapeutics. “Alizé Pharma’s research and development operations complement our existing expertise in developing novel treatments for orphan endocrine indications.
Together with our on-going nevanimibe (ATR-101) program, which recently reported positive topline phase two results in classic congenital adrenal hyperplasia, we continue to grow our leadership in the endocrinology space by advancing these promising new therapies.”
Livoletide has been granted orphan drug designation in PWS by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and has received a positive opinion from the European Medicines Agency for orphan drug status.
More information about Millendo can be found here.
