Jazz Pharmaceuticals plc and Actio Biosciences, Inc. announced a agreement under which Jazz will acquire privately held Actio Biosciences for $820 million in cash upfront, with up to $500 million in potential regulatory approval and sales milestones.
The strategic transaction adds ABS-1230 a novel, first-in-class small-molecule precision therapy targeting the KCNT1 ion channel to Jazz’s industry-leading neuroscience pipeline. ABS-1230 is in development for KCNT1-positive epilepsy, an ultra-rare, severe genetic disease affecting approximately 2,500 people in the U.S. There are currently no FDA-approved treatments for the condition, which typically manifests in infancy with severe, treatment-resistant seizures and profound developmental impairments.
In early clinical trials, ABS-1230 demonstrated meaningful seizure reductions in pediatric patients. The therapy is currently being evaluated in the Phase 1b/2a KYRON study, designed to support a potential U.S. New Drug Application. ABS-1230 holds FDA Fast Track, Rare Pediatric Disease, and Orphan Drug designations, and has been accepted into the FDA’s Rare Disease Evidence Principles (RDEP) program.
“The acquisition of ABS-1230 represents a highly strategic expansion of our rare epilepsy portfolio, building upon the global success of Epidiolex® and deepening our leadership in rare and severe epilepsies,” said Renee Gala, President and CEO of Jazz Pharmaceuticals.
“We chose to partner with Jazz because they combine a purpose-led culture with a world-class development engine and the commercial scale to ensure ABS-1230 reaches patients as quickly as possible,” said David Goldstein, Ph.D., CEO of Actio Biosciences.
Concurrently with closing, Actio will spin out a separate, independent private entity to retain non-epilepsy assets,including ABS-0871 for Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease and associated personnel. Jazz will retain a minority stake in the new spin-out.
The transaction is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2026, subject to customary closing conditions.
