Tarsus 与 Alkeus 达成并购意向，总对价约4.5亿美元

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IRVINE, Calif. - Tarsus Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:TARS) announced today that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Alkeus Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a privately held biotechnology company developing gildeuretinol (ALK-001) for Stargardt disease.
The transaction includes approximately $450 million in upfront consideration, consisting of $270 million in cash and $180 million in Tarsus common stock. Additional payments include up to $350 million upon potential regulatory approval and first commercial sale, plus low single-digit tiered descending royalties based on gildeuretinol net sales, according to a press release statement. Investors seeking deeper insights into Tarsus’s financial health and valuation metrics can access comprehensive analysis through InvestingPro, which offers detailed Fair Value assessments and expert insights to evaluate the impact of this acquisition.
Gildeuretinol is an investigational once-daily oral therapy in Phase 3 development for Stargardt disease, an inherited retinal disease affecting more than 36,000 people in the United States. The disease often begins in childhood or adolescence and progressively damages central vision. There are currently no FDA-approved therapies for the condition.
The drug candidate has been evaluated in more than 400 patients, with some treated for over seven years. In the TEASE-1 study of 50 patients with advanced Stargardt disease, ALK-001 demonstrated a 29.5% slower untransformed, annualized growth rate of atrophic lesions compared to the untreated arm. In the TEASE-2 study of 79 patients, those treated with ALK-001 were 87% less likely to experience significant loss in low light visual acuity compared to placebo.
The ongoing Phase 3 NORTHSTAR trial is expected to enroll approximately 230 patients and measure the rate of retinal atrophic lesion growth over 24 months as the primary endpoint. Top-line data are expected in the second half of 2029.
Gildeuretinol has received Breakthrough Therapy, Orphan Drug and Rare Pediatric Disease designations from the FDA.
The Tarsus common stock to be issued at closing will be priced at $61.38 per share. The transaction has been approved by both companies’ boards of directors and Alkeus stockholders. The acquisition is expected to close in 2026, subject to regulatory approvals and customary closing conditions.
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