Novo Nordisk outbids Pfizer for drug developer Metsera

Novo Nordisk has announced the acquisition of the American biotechnology company Metsera for $6 billion, interrupting the September deal with Pfizer. Pfizer called the move "reckless". This was reported by AFP.

Metsera is an American biotechnology company specializing in the development of innovative drugs for the treatment of obesity.

Danish manufacturer of weight loss drugs Ozempic and Wegovy on Thursday offered $56.50 per share of Metsera in cash. That's $9 more than Pfizer offered in September, when it valued the company at $4.9 billion .

"Under the terms of the offer, Novo Nordisk will acquire all of the outstanding shares of Metsera common stock at a price of $56.50 per share in cash," the Danish company said in a statement.

Following the announcement of the offer, Metsera confirmed that the offer from Novo Nordisk is "superior" as defined in the merger agreement with Pfizer.

"This is an attempt by a company with a dominant position in the market to suppress competition in violation of the law by taking over an emerging American competitor," Pfizer said .

The company stated that it is "ready to use all legal means to enforce its rights under the agreement".

Pharmaceutical companies are competing for Metsera's most promising drug, MET-097i, which is currently in the second phase of clinical trials.

The drug works on a similar principle to Novo Nordisk's Ozempic and Wegovy, but the key advantage of MET-097i is its infrequent administration – one injection per month instead of weekly injections.

According to Novo Nordisk, the acquisition of Metsera will give the Danish company "the opportunity to maximize the potential of Metsera's complementary portfolio and capabilities.".

• on October 17, shares of the Danish pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk fell after Trump's announcement that the price of Ozempic would be reduced to $150.