Drug expansion: Pfizer ramps up obesity treatments with $4.9B Metsera deal; shares jump sharply
The deal values each Metsera share at $47.50 in cash, a premium of more than 42% over Friday’s closing price, according to news agency AP report.Additional payments of $22.50 per share could be triggered depending on the progress of Metsera’s pipeline.
While Metsera has no products on the market, it is developing four programs in clinical trials and one in mid-stage testing.Obesity treatments have seen soaring demand in recent years, driven by market leaders such as Eli Lilly’s Zepbound and Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy.
Pfizer currently has no approved obesity drugs but is pursuing clinical development, having earlier this year ended work on a once-daily pill before late-stage testing.Pfizer shares rose 31 cents to $24.33 in pre-market trading on Monday, while Metsera’s stock jumped roughly 60%, reflecting investor confidence in the company’s pipeline and the growing obesity treatment market.
