<a href="https://www.fiercebiotech.com/biotech/agios-agrees-165m-blood-disorder-drug-koreas-oscotec-flunked-phase-2-study" hreflang="en">Agios signs $165M deal for blood disorder drug from Korea’s Oscotec that flunked phase 2 study</a>
Agios Pharmaceuticals has signed a $165 million deal to acquire cevidoplenib, an oral SYK inhibitor for treating immune thrombocytopenia, from South Korea’s Oscotec, despite the drug's failure in a phase 2 trial. Agios plans to advance cevidoplenib into phase 3 trials by mid-2028, aiming to address the limitations of current treatments for the blood disorder.
Agios Pharmaceuticals' decision to acquire cevidoplenib, despite its phase 2 trial setback, highlights a strategic move to address unmet needs in chronic immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) treatment by focusing on secondary endpoints that showed promising results. This underscores the potential for licensing and development deals in the healthtech sector, particularly when a drug shows durable clinical benefits even if primary endpoints are missed. Such opportunities may offer valuable entry points for investment or collaboration with companies aiming to innovate in blood disorder treatments.