Denmark-Based Novo Nordisk to Buy Hypertension Drug in $1.3 Bn Deal

Denmark-based pharmaceutical player, Novo Nordisk (NOVOb.CO) has agreed to buy ocedurenone, from KBP Biosciences for up to $1.3 billion.

Ocedurenone is a drug for uncontrolled hypertension with potential application in cardiovascular and kidney disease. The acquisition of this hypertension drug is expected to close before the end of 2023.

With this move, the pharma compnay aims to expand its portfolio of chronic disease management drugs with a focus on other serious chronic diseases.

Currently, Ocedurenone which is an orally administered drug is undergpoing its phase 3 trial CLARION-CKD in patients with uncontrolled hypertension and advanced chronic kidney disease.

"This deal is closely aligned with our strategic focus on expanding from our core in diabetes into other serious chronic diseases, including through novel drug modalities," Novo said in a statement.

According to a multi-centric national survey conducted by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), National Centre for Disease Informatics & Research (NCDIR), Bengaluru found that 28.5% of adults in India were hypertensive.

While, the percentage of Indian adults aged 30-79 years suffering from hypertension has significantly increased in the last three decades. The prevalence of the disease increased from 25.52% in 1990 to 30.59% in 2019 in Indian men, and from 26.53% to 29.54% in Indian women.

Founded in 1989, the Denmark-based pharmaceutical was formed through a merger of two Danish companies, Nordisk Insulinlaboratorium and Novo Terapeutisk Laboratorium, which date back to the 1920s.

The pharma company seeks to manufacture and market pharmaceutical products and services, specifically diabetes care medications and devices. Its main product is the drug semaglutide, used to treat diabetes under the brand name Ozempic and obesity under the brand name Wegovy.

Further, it is also involved with hemostasis management, growth hormone therapy, and hormone replacement therapy. Currently, the company employs more than 48,000 people globally and markets its products in 168 countries. It aims to drive change to defeat diabetes and other serious chronic diseases.

In a similar development, Predictmedix AI launched non-invasive diabetes screening solution amid rising concerns in India. This advanced screening technique holds the capacity to identify early indicators of diabetes by meticulously analysing subtle biological markers that often elude traditional diagnostic methods.

Just days back, Lupin unveiled Humrahi, a diabetes management patient support program that focuses on crucial aspects including therapy adherence, personalised diet counselling, medication asssitance and tailored lifestyle modifications, all overseen by healthcare professionals.