The Federal Trade โขcommission is scrutinizing Novo Nordisk’s planned acquisition of Metsera, a startup focused onโฃ novel metabolic diseaseโ treatments, raising concerns โขthe deal could stifle competition. daniel Guarnera, director โฃof โthe โฃFTC‘s Bureau ofโ Competition, outlined these concerns in a letter to lawyersโ representing both companies on โTuesday.
The move signals increased regulatory pressure on pharmaceutical consolidation, especiallyโ in the rapidly expanding market for obesity and diabetes drugs. Novo Nordisk, already a dominant player โwith blockbuster medications like Wegovy and Ozempic,โ aims to โคincorporate Metsera’s research into its pipeline.โ The โฃFTC’s intervention suggests the agency fears theโข acquisition could eliminate a potential โคcompetitor and ultimately lead to higherโ prices or reduced innovation โin the โขtreatment of metabolic diseases,โค impacting millions ofโ patients. The agencyโฃ has requested additional details about the proposed deal.
Metsera is developing a novel class of metabolic modulators, โaiming to address obesity and related โconditions. โNovo Nordisk announced its intent to acquire the companyโค in September 2023, but โthe financial terms โขwere not disclosed. The FTC’s letter initiates a deeper investigation into the potential anti-competitive effects of the merger,potentially โleading to a prolonged review โor evenโข a challengeโข to the acquisition.
