Key players are Neurocrine Biosciences (San Diego, Nasdaq: NBIX), led by CEO Kyle Gano, Ph.D., acquiring Soleno Therapeutics (Redwood City, Calif., Nasdaq: SLNO); Vykat XR received FDA approval in March 2025 for hyperphagia in PWS patients aged 4+.[1][2][4][8] No specific agencies beyond FDA are noted, though the deal awaits customary conditions.[2][3]
Vykat XR, using long-studied diazoxide, launched post-approval and achieved $190.4M sales from 1,250 patients in under a year, with forecasts of $450M in 2026 and $2B worldwide by mid-2030s.[2] Neurocrine seeks to expand its endocrinology/rare disease portfolio, leveraging salesforce synergies in pediatric endocrinology.[2][4] The deal leaked via Financial Times on April 5, surprising analysts given Vykat's growth potential.[2]
Newsworthy as Neurocrine's largest M&A ever, it entrenches leadership in rare metabolic disorders amid GLP-1 era competition, diversifies revenue, and addresses unmet PWS needs as the sole hyperphagia therapy with patent protection into the 2030s.[2][3][6][7][8]