Jazz Pharmaceuticals to acquire Actio Biosciences for up to $1.32 billion

Jazz Pharmaceuticals has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Actio Biosciences in a deal valued at up to $1.32 billion. The transaction includes an upfront payment of $820 million, with an additional $500 million in potential milestone payments related to regulatory and sales targets.

The acquisition focuses on Actio’s lead clinical asset, ABS-1230, an experimental precision therapy for KCNT1-related epilepsy. This rare genetic disorder affects approximately 2,500 patients in the United States, often causing hundreds of seizures daily and severe developmental challenges. Currently, there are no FDA-approved therapies for this specific condition.

ABS-1230 has shown seizure reduction in early clinical studies and is currently undergoing a Phase 1b/2a trial intended to support a U.S. drug application. As part of the deal, Actio will spin out a new private company to continue developing treatments for Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, in which Jazz will retain a minority stake. The deal is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2026.