Novartis has entered into a definitive agreement for the acquisition of Ziarco Group Limited, a privately held company focused on the development of novel treatments in dermatology. This acquisition would add a once-daily oral H4 receptor antagonist in development for atopic dermatitis (AD), commonly known as eczema, to complement the growing Novartis dermatology portfolio and pipeline. The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory approval. The financial details of this transaction are not disclosed.
Ziarco's lead investigational product, ZPL389, is a potential first-in-class oral treatment for moderate-to-severe eczema. Eczema is a chronic, itchy, inflammatory skin condition found in millions of children and adults worldwide. In addition, it is associated with sleep loss and a significant reduction in quality of life. Currently, no safe, effective, and well-tolerated oral treatments are available for the moderate-to-severe form of this condition.
"There is an unmet need for innovative, effective and safe oral treatment options for people living with eczema," said Vasant Narasimhan, Global Head, Drug Development and Chief Medical Officer, Novartis. "We are proud of our dermatology capabilities shown by the recent successful launches of Cosentyx and Xolair. Now we're excited about a potential new medicine for people with eczema through the acquisition of Ziarco and the addition of a first-in-class oral H4 receptor antagonist to our growing pipeline."