AstraZeneca completes $2.7 billion purchase of ZS Pharma

AstraZeneca said Thursday it has completed its agreement to purchase ZS Pharma.

The deal enhances AstraZeneca's cardiovascular and metabolic disease pipeline as it now has access to the California-based biopharmaceutical company's leading hyperkalemia treatment known as ZS-9. The potassium-binding compound, which is under review by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), uses ion-trap technology to decrease and maintain control of serum-potassium levels.

Hyperkalemia is a condition involving higher than normal potassium levels in the blood and can be deadly for those with chronic kidney disease and chronic heart failure. ZS-9 is a much-needed therapeutic option as available treatments for hyperkalemia are limited.

In November, AstraZeneca announced its plan to acquire ZS Pharma for $2.7 billion. 

Cardiovascular and metabolic disease is one of AstraZeneca's three main therapy areas. The British-Swedish drugmaker aims to reduce morbidity, mortality and organ damage through an integrated approach that takes into account multiple risk factors associated with cardiovascular disease, diabetes and chronic kidney disease.

AstraZeneca's line of cardiovascular and metabolic diseases products include the anemia drug roxadustat that is in Phase III development. The oral tablet works by increasing red blood cells and is intended to treat anemia in individuals with chronic kidney disease. It is being developed in collaboration with biopharmaceutical company FibroGen.