Jazz to acquire Actio for $820M, expanding epilepsy drug portfolio

• Jazz Pharmaceuticals agreed to acquire Actio Biosciences for $820 million upfront, adding the epilepsy drug candidate ABS-1230.
• The deal includes up to $500 million in approval and sales milestone payments, with Jazz financing the transaction through cash and existing facilities.
• ABS-1230 is in a Phase 1b/2a trial for KCNT1+ epilepsy and has received several FDA rare disease designations.

Jazz Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:JAZZ) agreed to acquire privately held Actio Biosciences for $820 million upfront, adding the clinical-stage epilepsy candidate ABS-1230 to its rare neurological disease portfolio.

The transaction follows development of ABS-1230, a potential KCNT1 ion channel inhibitor for KCNT1+ epilepsy, an ultra-rare condition with no FDA-approved therapies currently available.

The deal includes up to $500 million in additional approval and sales milestone payments, while the ongoing Phase 1b/2a KYRON trial is intended to serve as the U.S. registrational study for ABS-1230.

ABS-1230 has received FDA Fast Track designation, Rare Pediatric Disease designation, Orphan Drug designation and acceptance into the FDA’s Rare Disease Evidence Principles program.

At closing, Actio will spin out a separate rare-neurology company retaining assets including ABS-0871, a development program for Charcot-Marie-Tooth type 2C, with Jazz receiving a minority stake in the new company.

The all-cash transaction was approved by both boards and is expected to close in Q4 2026, funded through Jazz Pharmaceuticals’ cash balance and existing financing facilities.