Ipsen Acquires Epizyme in Initial Deal Worth $247 Million

Ipsen is expanding its cancer drug portfolio with the purchase of Epizyme for $247 million, gaining access to the company’s chemotherapy-free EZH2 inhibitor, Tazverik (tazemetostat).

Tazverik was granted Accelerated Approval by the FDA in 2020 for certain forms of follicular lymphoma and for metastatic or locally advanced epithelioid sarcoma.

The oral treatment does not kill cancer cells directly. Instead, it targets a protein called EZH2 that is found in many cells in the body and can lead to the growth of tumors.

Ipsen plans to seek FDA approval for the drug in combination with rituximab and lenalidomide for second-line follicular lymphoma.

Ipsen will also acquire Epizyme’s investigational oral SETD2 inhibitor, EZM0414, which was granted FDA Fast Track status and is currently under evaluation in a phase I/Ib trial in adult patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma and diffuse large B-cell lymphoma.