Bellus Health

History

2023: GSK bought Bellus Health for $2 billion

On April 18, 2023, GSK announced the purchase of Canadian biopharmaceutical company Bellus Health, which develops a drug for the treatment of refractory chronic cough, for $2 billion.

Bellus Health develops camlipixant, a molecule with the same mechanism of action as gefapixant. Both drugs are antagonists of P2X3, a peripheral nervous system receptor that causes neuronal hypersensibilization and is associated with cough urges. By preventing P2X3 stimulation, molecules such as camlipixant and gefapixant can reduce the severity and frequency of coughing. Bellus Health performed instrument validation comparing the compressed and uncompressed records obtained from the SOOTHE phase 2b trial and submitted the validation protocol and statistical plan to the FDA in late 2022.

GSK bought Bellus Health

As a result of the acquisition, GSK will gain control over the third phase drug candidate. Bellus Health has conducted a pair of late-phase clinical trials of camlipixant in recent months, allowing it to present data in the second half of 2024 and 2025. GSK expects to get approval for the camlipixant and bring the drug to market in 2026.

According to Fiercebiotech, even if the camlipixant goes through the regulatory process more smoothly than the gefapixant, GSK is likely to enter the market after the product from Merck. If this happens, GSK's ability to gain market share may depend on whether the Phase 3 program confirms that the camlipixant has best-in-class potential. The acquisition of Bellus Health will begin to positively affect GSK's profits from 2027, the press release said. The British company sees the potential for a significant increase in sales starting in 2031.

Gefapixant and Camlipixant for April 2023 are being tested as two-day drugs, GSK is working on how to apply its product as a one-day option. It is for this reason that GSK predicts that the camlipixant can still occupy most of the market and create the possibility of multi-billion dollar peak sales.

According to GSK, the company will pay $14.75 per share of Bellus Health, which is 103% higher than the closing price of the biotechnology company on April 17, 2023. The parties plan to close the deal in the third quarter of 2023.^[1]

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