Genfit expanding liver diseases portfolio

Having last year divested its investigational treatment elafibranor, for people living with primary biliary cholangitis (PBC), French biotech firm Genfit (Euronext: GNFT) has now entered into an exclusivity agreement to acquire Versantis, a private Swiss-based clinical stage biotechnology company focused on addressing the growing unmet medical needs in liver diseases. News of the buy pushed Genfit’s shares up 2.3% to 4.13 euros.

The acquisition of Versantis fits perfectly within Genfit’s strategic vision of becoming a global leader in ACLF (acute-on-chronic liver failure) and is another critical milestone in the execution of company’s strategic plan, the company noted. With this acquisition, Genfit consolidates its position in ACLF via the integration of a clinically advanced asset presenting a solid scientific rationale supported by encouraging Phase Ib and preclinical data.

Genfit will also further expand its pipeline in other liver diseases characterized by high unmet medical needs with additional product candidates developed by Versantis. In addition, Genfit’s know-how in ACLF will broaden, with the integration of Versantis’ team of experts, joining forces to accelerate both research and development.