GSK Invests $2 Billion in Promising Liver Disease Treatment

GSK Bolsters Liver Disease Pipeline with $2B Acquisition

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The global MASH (NASH) therapeutics market is projected to reach $25 billion by 2030. As of 2024, more than 50 drugs are in clinical trials for MASH, highlighting fierce competition and investor interest.Representative Image: FreePik

Published on:

17 May 2025, 10:30 am

UK pharma GSK is making a significant move in the liver disease space, as it said it will acquire efimosfermin, a late-stage investigational treatment, from Boston Pharmaceuticals in an agreement worth up to $2 billion.

The large acquisition is a continuation of GSK's efforts to establish its portfolio in liver health and create treatments that address the growing global health burden.

What is Efimosfermin, and in what way does it differ?

Efimosfermin is a new drug for liver disease in the form of a once-monthly subcutaneous injection. It will enter Phase III trials and is expected to be on the market by 2029. The drug is for steatotic liver disease (SLD), which affects approximately 5% of the global population and is typically accompanied by metabolic disorders and fat build-up in the liver.

Efimosfermin is also under investigation for metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), a progressive and potentially debilitating liver inflammation. GSK will continue to develop the treatment for alcoholic liver disease (ALD), a condition that affects approximately 26 million people worldwide.

Deal Breakdown: What's Included?

The transaction includes a total payment structure of up to $2 billion with:

$1.2 billion upfront payment.
Up to $800 million in milestone payments

To facilitate the acquisition, GSK BP Asset IX, Inc. will acquire Efimosfermin, a subsidiary of Boston Pharmaceuticals that owns Efimosfermin.

GSK has also committed to paying milestone payments and tiered royalties to Novartis Pharma, the compound's former license holder.

Angry young-woman suffering a stomachache

Over 1.5 billion people worldwide are affected by chronic liver disease (CLD). Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common liver disorder, affecting 25–30% of the global population.

Enhancing GSK's liver disease research

The agreement is part of GSK's broader effort to advance innovation in liver health. The company has other investigational treatments in the field, including GSK'990, which showed promise in reducing markers of liver damage in early 2024 trials.

With efimosfermin under its belt, GSK is poised to play a leading role in addressing the global rise in chronic liver diseases.

Why this matters to providers and patients.

Liver disease, and in particular SLD, MASH, and ALD, is often underdiagnosed and undertreated. As metabolic and lifestyle-related diseases continue to increase in prevalence, the demand for effective treatments is escalating. Efimosfermin's once-monthly administration and multi-condition possibility make it an appealing choice to both simplify and improve patient care.

GSK's investment not only underscores the urgent need to create therapies for liver diseases but also demonstrates a proactive dedication to bringing innovative therapies one step closer to patients.

Reference:

1. Monnappa, Chandini. "GSK to Buy Liver Disease Drug for up to $2 Billion." Reuters, May 14, 2025. https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/gsk-buy-efimosfermin-up-2-billion-2025-05-14/.

(Input from various sources)

(Rehash/Muhammad Faisal Arshad/MSM)

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GSK Invests $2 Billion in Promising Liver Disease Treatment

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