Pharma BD Deal Intelligence
Novo Nordisk agreed in October 2023 to acquire ocedurenone -- a non-steroidal mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist (MRA) for uncontrolled hypertension in patients with advanced chronic kidney disease -- from Singapore-based KBP Biosciences for up to $1.3 billion, with $1.3B in milestone-heavy consideration. The deal closed in December 2023. On 26 June 2024 Novo Nordisk stopped the Phase 3 CLARION-CKD trial after an independent data monitoring committee found it met prespecified futility criteria on the primary endpoint (change in systolic blood pressure at week 12), and recognised an impairment loss of approximately DKK 5.7 billion (~USD 0.8B). Novo discontinued ocedurenone development in November 2024. In a subsequent dispute, Novo Nordisk alleges KBP fraudulently concealed Phase 2 data showing the drug's inefficacy and quality/compliance irregularities at a key trial site; on 14 February 2025 the Singapore International Commercial Court found a 'good arguable case' and granted Novo's request to freeze the assets of KBP founder/chairman Huang Zhenhua, with Novo seeking roughly $830 million -- approximately what it had paid under the deal.