Chiesi to acquire KalVista for $1.9 billion, adding hereditary angioedema pill to rare-disease portfolio

Italian pharmaceutical group Chiesi announced it will purchase KalVista Therapeutics for $1.9 billion. The transaction values KalVista at $27 per share, a 40 percent premium to its last closing price, and brings the approved oral drug Ekterly, used for acute swelling attacks in hereditary angioedema, into Chiesi’s rare‑disease portfolio.

In other biotech news, Pfizer and BridgeBio secured a new patent, and the FDA revealed a plan to review clinical trial data in real time to speed drug approvals. Rocket Pharmaceuticals also sold its priority‑review voucher.

Big‑pharma earnings were reported this week, with Biogen, AstraZeneca, Regeneron, AbbVie and GSK releasing first‑quarter results.