US pharmaceutical giant Pfizer has announced plans to acquire Metsera, a biotechnology company that develops drugs for obesity and heart disease, in a deal valued at $4.9 billion.
Under the agreement, Pfizer will purchase all outstanding shares of Metsera’s common stock at $47.50 per share. The transaction is expected to be completed in the final quarter of 2025.
Pfizer said the acquisition would strengthen its portfolio by expanding into the fast-growing obesity treatment market. “Obesity is a large and growing space with over 200 health conditions associated with it,” Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla said in a statement. “This acquisition aligns with our strategy of directing investments to the most impactful opportunities and positions Pfizer in a key therapeutic area.”
The move comes amid rising competition in the obesity drug sector, fueled by the global success of Novo Nordisk’s Ozempic and Wegovy, as well as Eli Lilly’s Zepbound.
Pfizer, which recorded massive profits during the COVID-19 vaccine era, has seen its stock fall from $58 in December 2021 to $24 as of last Friday’s close. Following the acquisition announcement, Pfizer’s shares rose 1.6 percent in pre-market trading on Monday, while Metsera’s stock surged by 60 percent.
