The French firm is paying a 104% premium plus contingent value rights of an additional $10 per share to get hold of AstraZeneca spin-off Albireo and its lead asset Bylvay, which is approved for progressive familial intrahepatic cholestasis and is showing promise in two other more lucrative indications.

While plans to obtain accelerated approval of lanifibranor remain unchanged, Inventiva now plans to conduct the confirmatory Phase III in cirrhotic patients, meaning a shorter trial duration and possibly broader label.

With resmetirom hitting its co-primary endpoints, Madrigal intends to file the THRβ agonist for approval during H1 2023 in the liver disease, an unmet medical need with blockbuster earnings potential.

As citizens in China grapple with the virtual end of pandemic restrictions and rush for medicines from cold remedies to traditional options, even some prescription antivirals such as Paxlovid are appearing online, while cheaper but unauthorized Indian generic versions have quickly sold out. Meanwhile, a renewed vaccination effort is targeting high-risk individuals and second booster shots as the country faces a huge surge in cases.