Sobi enhancing position in rare hematology with CTI BioPharma takeover

Swedish Orphan Biovitrum (STO: SOBI), also known as Sobi, has reached an agreement to acquire CTI BioPharma, a US biopharma company focused on blood related cancers and rare diseases, by means of a tender offer.

The acquisition complements and further strengthens Sobi’s leading hematology franchise by adding Vonjo (pacritinib), a novel oral kinase inhibitor that inhibits JAK2, IRAK1 and ACRV1, while sparing JAK1. Vonjo obtained accelerated approval by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in February 2022 for treatment of adults with intermediate or high-risk primary or secondary (post-polycythemia vera or post-essential thrombocythemia) myelofibrosis with a platelet count below 50 × 109/L.

Data and analytics company GlobalData has previously said that Vonjo’s ability to target such critically underserved and distinct patient populations means its annual sales are set to reach $235 million by 2027, despite upcoming market competition.