Aegerion buys Myalept from AZ for $325M

Aegerion Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ:AEGR) acquired global rights outside of three Asian territories to Myalept metreleptin from AstraZeneca plc (LSE:AZN; NYSE:AZN) for $325 million up front. The transaction is expected to close in January 2015.

In February, Myalept became the first drug approved by FDA to treat complications of leptin deficiency in patients with congenital or acquired generalized lipodystrophy, a rare condition associated with lack of fat tissue. Myalept, a recombinant form of human leptin, has a REMS program under which prescribers must be certified. It has Orphan Drug status in the U.S. to treat metabolic disorders secondary to lipodystrophy. ...