Vertex Pharmaceuticals has entered into an agreement to acquire clinical stage biotech, Alpine Immune Sciences, for US$65 per share or approximately US$4.9 B in cash. Through the deal, Vertex gains access to Alpine’s lead product, povetacicept (ALPN-303), which has already demonstrated best-in-class potential in a Phase II trial in patients with IgA nephropathy. The takeover marks the biggest deal by value to date for Vertex, as the company attempts to bolsters its existing renal portfolio, which includes inaxaplin for the treatment of APOL1-mediated kidney disease and VX-407 for autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease.