<a href="https://www.fiercebiotech.com/biotech/ipsen-scuttles-liver-disease-candidates-952m-albireo-acquisition" hreflang="en">Ipsen scuttles liver disease candidates from $952M Albireo acquisition</a>
Ipsen has discontinued the development of two liver disease drug candidates acquired from its $952 million purchase of Albireo, specifically ritivixibat and A2342, following a strategic portfolio review. The company will continue to focus on Bylvay, an approved treatment for itching associated with liver diseases, which generated significant sales in 2025.
Ipsen's decision to halt the development of ritivixibat and A2342, despite their potential in liver disease treatment, highlights the significant impact of strategic portfolio reviews and recruitment challenges in clinical trials on drug development outcomes. This serves as a critical reminder for healthtech and biotech professionals to closely evaluate the viability of clinical trials and ensure robust recruitment strategies to mitigate the risk of prematurely terminating promising drug candidates.