The board of directors of both companies have unanimously approved the transaction.

“This transformative transaction will become a cornerstone in Lundbeck’s neuro-rare franchise, with a potential to drive growth into the next decade. Bexicaserin addresses a critical unmet need for patients suffering from rare and severe epilepsies, for which there are very few good treatment options available. With this acquisition, we continue to execute on our Focused Innovator strategy, transforming the lives of patients suffering from severe brain disorders,” says Charl van Zyl, President and CEO of Lundbeck.

Longboard Pharmaceuticals

Longboard is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing novel, transformative medicines for neurological diseases. Its lead asset, bexicaserin, has shown encouraging anti-seizure reduction to date in preclinical and clinical studies, with its next-generation superagonist mechanism specifically targeting 5-HT2C receptors, which support bexicaserin’s potential to offer a highly differentiated and best-in-class profile. Bexicaserin is now being evaluated in a global phase III clinical program (the DEEp Program).

A strategic milestone for Lundbeck

The acquisition of Longboard marks a strategic milestone for Lundbeck, enhancing and complementing its Focused Innovator strategy and advancing its goal of building a neuro-rare disease franchise, it states. Through the acquisition of Longboard, Lundbeck gains access to bexicaserin, a novel 5-HT2C agonist in development for the treatment of seizures associated with DEEs, including Dravet syndrome, LennoxGastaut syndrome, and other rare epilepsies. This aligns with Lundbeck’s expertise in delivering innovative treatments and re-establishes our scientific and commercial leadership in rare epilepsies.

The transaction is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2024.