(Recasts paragraph 1 to add details on deal closing, background on Pfizer's ( PFE ) amended offer in

paragraph 6)

Nov 13 (Reuters) -

Pfizer ( PFE ) said on Thursday it completed an acquisition worth up to $10 billion of

biotech firm Metsera ( MTSR ) after winning

shareholder approval

, securing a path into the fast-growing obesity treatment market after a fierce bidding war

with Wegovy-maker Novo Nordisk.

WHAT IS METSERA?

Metsera ( MTSR ) is a New York-based clinical-stage biotech firm focused on developing treatments for

obesity and metabolic diseases.

Founded in 2022 by Population Health Partners and ARCH Venture Partners, the company went

public on Nasdaq in January 2025 with an initial valuation of $2.7 billion.

Since then, its market value has ballooned to about $7.5 billion as of Wednesday's close of

trading.

Metsera's ( MTSR ) board accepted Pfizer's ( PFE )

amended offer

earlier this week, which valued the biotech at up to $86.25 per share, including $65.60 in

cash and up to $20.65 tied to the success of its drug pipeline.

WHAT OBESITY DRUGS IS METSERA DEVELOPING?

Metsera's ( MTSR ) lead pipeline asset is MET-097i, a GLP-1 receptor agonist designed for

once-monthly injection. Novo's weight-loss drugs Wegovy and Eli Lilly's ( LLY ) Zepbound and Mounjaro

require weekly injections.

The drug demonstrated placebo-adjusted weight loss of up to 14.1% after 28 weekly doses

ranging from 0.4 mg to 1.2 mg in two mid-stage trials. A placebo-adjusted result measures the

difference between outcomes in the treatment group and a control group receiving a placebo.

It plans to begin late-stage trials later this year and develop the drug for use in

combination therapies and oral versions.

Metsera's ( MTSR ) second candidate, MET-233i, is currently in early-stage trials, where it helped

patients lose 8.4% of their weight, when adjusted for placebo, at 36 days. The drug belongs to a

class of medicines which mimic the pancreatic hormone amylin that is co-secreted with insulin.

It is also an injectable drug.

The company is also developing MET-002o, an oral GLP-1 receptor agonist currently in

early-stage trials.

Leerink analysts estimate Metsera's ( MTSR ) drugs could surpass $5 billion in peak annual sales.

HOW DOES IT COMPARE TO MARKET LEADERS?

Eli Lilly's ( LLY ) Zepbound posted $3.6 billion in third-quarter sales, up 185%

year-over-year, while its Mounjaro brought in $6.5 billion.

Sales of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy, a weekly semaglutide injection, have slowed due

to competition and copycat products. A combination shot failed to meet expectations in

late-stage trials, prompting a pivot to an oral version, which showed up to 16.6% weight loss in

trials.

Pfizer ( PFE ) does not have an injectable weight-loss drug. The company discontinued two oral

GLP-1 candidates, lotiglipron in 2023 and danuglipron in 2025 due to liver safety concerns,

leaving it without a viable in-house obesity drug.

OWNERSHIP AND BACKERS

Arch Venture Partners is Metsera's ( MTSR ) largest shareholder, holding over 25% stake through its

ARCH Venture Fund XII and XIII, led by investor Bob Nelsen.

Alphabet Inc ( GOOG ) owns about 4% of the company.

Metsera's ( MTSR ) executive chairman is Clive Meanwell, co-founder of Population Health Partners.