Argenx is set to acquire Forte Biosciences in a deal valued at $2.2 billion, according to the report. The transaction is centered on Forte’s phase 2-stage drug candidate being developed for vitiligo and celiac disease.
The move gives Argenx a late-clinical pipeline asset in two disease areas that have drawn growing interest across biotech. By targeting Forte, Argenx appears to be using the acquisition to add a program with development progress already underway rather than building a similar asset internally.
Vitiligo and celiac disease are both important markets for drug developers looking to expand in immune-related conditions. The reported purchase price underscores how much value Argenx sees in Forte’s lead program and its potential future role in the company’s broader portfolio.
The deal also stands out as a sizable biotech acquisition at a time when companies are being selective about where they deploy capital. For Argenx, the Forte buyout is a clear bet on the commercial and clinical promise of a phase 2 drug aimed at vitiligo and celiac disease.
