Sentynl Therapeutics, a US-based biopharmaceutical company wholly-owned by Zydus Lifesciences, has acquired Eiger BioPharmaceuticals’ Zokinvy® (lonafarnib) program.
Zokinvy is the first and only treatment approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to target the cause and symptoms of progeria, also known as Hutchinson-Gilford progeria syndrome (HGPS) and processing-deficient progeroid laminopathies (PDPL), in young people 12 months of age and older.
Collectively known as progeria, HGPS and PDPL are ultra-rare, fatal, genetic premature aging diseases that accelerate mortality in young patients. Following its US approval in 2020, Zokinvy secured approval in the European Union and Great Britain (2022) and in Japan (January 2024).
Dr. Sharvil Patel, Managing Director of Zydus Lifesciences, said: “This acquisition marks an important milestone in growing our portfolio of medicines for rare and orphan diseases, which can have devastating consequences if left untreated. We are focused on supporting patients to live healthier and more fulfilled lives. The acquisition of Zokinvy directly furthers this mission, as it has a demonstrated meaningful impact on young patients and their families.”
“It is an honor to add Zokinvy to our portfolio of products that have a tangible impact on the lives of rare disease patients, whose needs are too often unmet or overlooked,” said Matt Heck, President & Chief Executive Officer of Sentynl. “We are firmly committed to provide best-in-class global access to Zokinvy and are eager to serve the patients and their families affected by progeria. We are grateful to Eiger and The Progeria Research Foundation for their dedicated effort to develop and secure availability of this life-changing product.”
“We are pleased to complete this agreement with Sentynl, given our shared commitment to supporting patients of life-threatening, rare conditions with high unmet medical needs,” said David Apelian, MD, PhD, MBA, CEO of Eiger. “We thank The Progeria Research Foundation for their continued support of Zokinvy.”
Audrey Gordon, President and Executive Director of The Progeria Research Foundation (PRF), added: “Without Zokinvy therapy, children with progeria die of the same heart disease that affects millions of normally aging adults, but by an average age of 14.5 years old. Zokinvy gives these beautiful children longer, healthier lives. Since we first launched PRF in 1999, we have achieved tremendous progress in global awareness, breakthrough research, and treatment of progeria. We are thankful for our successful partnership with Eiger, and are excited to now join forces with Sentynl in our journey to continue advancing the research and treatment of this syndrome, with the ultimate goal to find the cure.”
