Madrigal Pharmaceuticals is making another major move in the rapidly growing liver disease treatment market, writes John George for The Philadelphia Business Journal.
The West Conshohocken company has a potential $1 billion licensing agreement aimed at expanding its pipeline of therapies for MASH.
Madrigal announced it will pay California-based Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals $25 million upfront for exclusive global rights to develop and commercialize ARO-PNPLA3. This experimental therapy targets a genetic mutation linked to metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis, commonly known as MASH.
The agreement also includes up to $975 million in milestone payments tied to development and commercial goals.
Madrigal has emerged as one of Montco’s fastest-growing biotech success stories following the FDA approval of Rezdiffra in 2024. The drug became the first approved treatment for MASH and generated nearly $1 billion in sales last year.
MASH is a serious liver disease caused by fat buildup in the liver that can lead to fibrosis, cirrhosis and liver failure. Company officials said the newly licensed therapy could help personalize treatment approaches by targeting patients with a specific genetic mutation associated with the disease.
Madrigal plans to study the experimental therapy alongside Rezdiffra. The company said it now has roughly a dozen programs in development.
To learn more about the potential licensing agreement for the West Conshohocken company, visit The Philadelphia Business Journal.
