Baxter International Inc. has signed a definitive agreement to acquire the Oncaspar (pegaspargase) product portfolio from Sigma-Tau Finanziaria S.p.A. for $900 million, gaining the leading biologic treatment Oncaspar, the investigational calaspargase pegol, and an established oncology infrastructure with clinical and sales resources. The transaction is expected to close in the third quarter. By mid-year, Baxter expects to establish the BioScience business as a separate biopharma company, Baxalta Inc.
 
Oncaspar is a first-line biologic used as part of a multi-agent chemotherapy regimen to treat acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), and is currently marketed in the U.S., Germany, Poland and other countries and has approximately $100 million in annual sales. ALL is responsible for more than 80% of childhood leukemia cases.
 
”The Baxter BioScience legacy of delivering solutions for orphan diseases and small patient populations and our global presence positions us well to accelerate the growth of the Oncaspar portfolio globally,” said Ludwig Hantson, Ph.D., president of Baxter BioScience. ”With Oncaspar, Baxalta will bring an established standard of care therapy to more patients worldwide through the pursuit of additional indications and regulatory approvals across the globe.”
 
Additionally, Baxter BioScience will continue the development of a lyophilized formulation, which is being investigated to enhance product stability to support product supply continuity.
 
Baxter is also acquiring a related new chemical entity calaspargase pegol, a biologic in development for the treatment of ALL with an increased shelf life that’s expected to reduce dosing frequency. The company also plans to investigate Oncaspar for potential new indications, including acute myeloid leukemia (AML).

The acquisition expands Baxter’s oncology portfolio, which has an estimated $10 billion total market potential across current oncology indications.