Aegerion Pharmaceuticals, a biopharmaceutical company dedicated to the development and commercialization of innovative therapies for patients with debilitating rare diseases, has completed the acquisition of Myalept (metreleptin) for injection, an orphan drug product that is indicated to treat complications of leptin deficiency in patients with generalised lipodystrophy (GLD).

Execution of the asset purchase agreement setting forth the terms of the acquisition was announced on November 6, 2014. Aegerion paid $325 million upfront to acquire the global rights to develop, manufacture and commercialise Myalept, subject to an existing distributor license with Shionogi covering Japan, South Korea and Taiwan.

Myalept is approved in the United States for the treatment of GLD, and it has orphan drug designation in the United States, European Union and Japan. Myalept is a recombinant analogue of human leptin, indicated in the US as an adjunct to diet as replacement therapy to treat the complications of leptin deficiency in patients with congenital or acquired generalised lipodystrophy.

Marc Beer, chief executive officer of Aegerion, commented: "We are excited to have an opportunity to build on AstraZeneca's progress and commitment to delivering Myalept to GLD patients, with a continuing commitment to excellence in patient support."

Lipodystrophy is a group of rare syndromes characterised by loss of fat tissue. In some patients, it is genetic, and in others it may be acquired for different pathophysiological, and in some cases unknown, reasons. Generalised lipodystrophy is characterised by a widespread loss of fat tissue under the skin. This loss of fat tissue causes a deficit in the hormone leptin leading to multiple metabolic complications.