Amira, Bristol-Myers deal

Bristol-Myers will acquire Amira for $325 million in cash, plus up to $150 million in milestones. Bristol-Myers will gain Amira's AM152, an oral lysophosphatidic acid receptor 1 ( LPA1) antagonist that has completed Phase I testing to treat lung fibrosis of scleroderma and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). Bristol-Myers will also get all backup compounds and an undisclosed preclinical program targeting autotaxin ( ENPP2; ATX), which the pharma said may be useful in neuropathic pain and cancer metastases. The pharma said it has identified fibrotic diseases as an area of high unmet medical need that complements the company's efforts in other therapeutic areas. JPMorgan advised Amira. ...