Alexion to acquire autoimmune drug firm

Abstract

Alexion Pharmaceuticals will acquire the Boston-based biotech firm Syntimmune for $400 million plus up to $800 million in potential milestone payments. Syntimmune says its lead antibody drug candidate, SYNT001, has the potential to treat autoimmune disease by facilitating the destruction of human immunoglobulin G antibodies that cause the disease. SYNT001 is already undergoing testing in people with a rare autoimmune blistering disease called pemphigus and a rare form of autoimmune anemia.