Shire To Acquire Rare-Disease Company ViroPharma

Shire has entered into a merger agreement to acquire all the outstanding shares of the rare disease company ViroPharma for approximately $4.2 billion, Shire announced in a press release. The acquisition fits with Shire’s strategy to expand its rare-disease portfolio and adds a growing commercial product.

ViroPharma’s commercial product Cinryze (C1 esterase inhibitor [human]) is for the prophylactic treatment of hereditary angioedema (HAE). The product complements Shire’s Firazyr (icatibant injection). Cinryze was approved with orphan drug designation in October 2008 and has grown rapidly since its launch in 2009.

“Shire is uniquely positioned to drive the continued success of Cinryze for the benefit of patients through our knowledge of the rare disease space, our international infrastructure, and our biologics manufacturing expertise,” said Shire CEO, Flemming Ornskov, MD, in the press release.