Swedish biopharmaceutical company Sobi has announced its agreement to acquire San Diego–based Arthrosi Therapeutics, a late-stage biotech developing a next-generation therapy for gout.
Sobi, listed on Nasdaq Stockholm, is a global biopharma company with around 1,900 employees and 2024 revenues of SEK 26 billion, focusing on rare diseases and innovative therapies.
The acquisition adds pozdeutinurad (AR882), an investigational once-daily oral URAT1 inhibitor, to Sobi’s portfolio. Pozdeutinurad is being evaluated in two fully recruited global Phase 3 trials for progressive and tophaceous gout, with pivotal data expected in 2026, targeting patients whose symptoms persist despite first-line urate-lowering therapies.
Under the deal, Sobi will pay $950 million upfront in cash, with up to $550 million in additional payments tied to clinical, regulatory, and sales milestones. The transaction, funded primarily through existing and new credit facilities, is expected to close in the first half of 2026 and is projected to strengthen Sobi’s mid- to long-term growth and margins.
Pozdeutinurad has shown efficacy in lowering serum uric acid, dissolving tophi, and a well-tolerated safety profile in Phase 2 studies. Arthrosi Therapeutics retains rights in Greater China through ApicHope. The acquisition aligns with Sobi’s strategy to expand treatment options for gout, a common form of inflammatory arthritis caused by elevated uric acid, which can lead to joint damage, reduced mobility, and chronic tophi if untreated.
The acquisition positions Sobi to become a leading player in next-generation gout therapies, offering hope to patients with persistent and severe disease.
