The latest from small and Emerging Pharma companies featuring Tarsus Pharmaceuticals.

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*Tarsus Pharmaceuticals To Acquire Alkeus Pharma in $800-M Deal 

Tarsus Pharmaceuticals To Acquire Alkeus Pharma in $800-M Deal 
Tarsus Pharmaceuticals, an Irvine, California-based bio/pharmaceutical company, has agreed to acquire Alkeus Pharmaceuticals, a Cambridge, Massachusetts-based clinical-stage bio/pharmaceutical company developing drugs for retinal disease, in a deal worth up to $800 million ($450 million upfront and $350 million in milestone payments). Tarsus announced the acquisition with an oversubscribed $125-million private investment in public equity financing as well.  

Alkeus’ lead candidate is gildeuretinol, an investigational small-molecule drug with once-daily oral formulation for treating Stargardt disease, an inherited juvenile macular degeneration that causes progressive central vision loss. 

The pending acquisition involves upfront consideration of approximately $450 million, consisting of $270 million in cash and $180 million in Tarsus common stock, milestones up to $350 million upon potential regulatory approval and first commercial sale, royalties up to low-single digit tiered descending royalties as a percentage of gildeuretinol net sales 

The pending transaction with Alkeus has been approved by the Boards of Directors of both companies, and the stockholders of Alkeus and is expected to close in 2026, subject to the expiration or termination of the applicable waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act and the satisfaction of other customary closing conditions 

Source: Tarsus Pharmaceuticals