Servier Acquires Potential Autism Treatment in Deal Valued at $450M

Servier has entered into a definitive agreement with Kaerus Bioscience for the acquisition of KER-0193, a potential treatment for Fragile X syndrome (FXS), the most common genetic cause of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). This acquisition demonstrates Servier's commitment to building a neurology franchise by expanding its pipeline with assets targeting rare indications for patients with high unmet need.

KER-0193 was discovered and developed by Kaerus Bioscience, a UK headquartered biotechnology company co-founded by Medicxi in 2016. Kaerus Bioscience successfully completed a Phase 1 clinical study of KER-0193 in healthy volunteers in March 2025, which confirmed the treatment to be safe and well tolerated with excellent pharmacokinetics. Additionally, KER-0193 has been granted both Orphan Drug Designation and Rare Pediatric Drug Designations for the treatment of FXS by the U.S. Food and Drugs Administration (FDA).

Under the terms of the agreement, Kaerus Bioscience will receive an upfront payment for the sale of KER-0193 and will also be eligible for development and commercial earn-out payments. The total value of the deal could reach up to $450M.

 

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