Move expected to strengthen BioCryst’s presence in hereditary angioedema and sustain double-digit growth trajectory
BioCryst Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: BCRX) has announced plans to acquire Astria Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: ATXS) in a cash-and-stock transaction valued at approximately $700 million in enterprise value, or about $920 million in aggregate equity value. The deal is designed to expand BioCryst’s hereditary angioedema (HAE) portfolio and enhance its long-term growth prospects.
Under the terms of the agreement, Astria shareholders will receive $8.55 in cash and 0.59 shares of BioCryst common stock for each Astria share. Based on BioCryst’s 20-day volume-weighted average price of $7.54 as of October 8, 2025, the consideration represents an implied value of $13.00 per Astria share, a 53% premium to Astria’s October 13 closing price and a 71% premium to its 20-day VWAP. The transaction, unanimously approved by both boards, is expected to close in the first quarter of 2026, subject to customary conditions. Upon completion, Astria CEO Jill C. Milne, Ph.D., will join the BioCryst board of directors.
The acquisition adds navenibart, Astria’s late-stage, long-acting monoclonal antibody inhibitor of plasma kallikrein, currently in Phase 3 clinical development for HAE prophylaxis. Navenibart’s extended dosing schedule—every three to six months—could offer patients a more convenient alternative to existing injectable treatments.
“With navenibart, BioCryst gains a perfectly complementary second product candidate that fits seamlessly within our HAE core competency,” said Jon Stonehouse, CEO of BioCryst. “Together with Orladeyo, we can offer patients both oral and injectable options that address diverse needs, while driving sustainable growth and profitability.”
The addition of navenibart positions BioCryst to broaden its presence in the rare-disease market. The company expects top-line data from the pivotal ALPHA-ORBIT trial in early 2027 and projects a commercial opportunity among more than 5,000 patients currently treated with injectable prophylaxis for HAE.
BioCryst will also acquire STAR-0310, Astria’s early-stage program for atopic dermatitis, though it plans to pursue strategic alternatives for that asset. Financially, the company anticipates that the transaction will maintain its non-GAAP profitability and positive cash flow, while providing meaningful synergies and accretion to operating profit in the first full year following navenibart’s expected launch. BioCryst projects Orladeyo sales of $580 million to $600 million in 2025, up 34% year-over-year in 2024, and expects the acquisition to reinforce a double-digit growth trajectory through the next decade.
