Jazz expands epilepsy portfolio with buy of Actio Biosciences

10 August 2026

Ireland-headquartered Jazz Pharmaceuticals (Nasdaq: JAZZ) has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire privately-held US biotech Actio Biosciences with the aim of expanding its epilepsy portfolio.

Actio Biosciences' lead clinical asset is ABS-1230, a novel, first-in-class small molecule precision therapy KCNT1 ion channel inhibitor. KCNT1+ epilepsy is a rare genetic developmental and epileptic encephalopathy (DEE) affecting approximately 2,500 patients in the USA. Patients suffering from KCNT1+ epilepsy typically endure a profound seizure burden, with most experiencing dozens to hundreds of episodes daily that remain highly resistant to antiseizure medications..

This article is accessible to registered users, to continue reading please register for free. A free trial will give you access to exclusive features, interviews, round-ups and commentary from the sharpest minds in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology space for a week. If you are already a registered user please login. If your trial has come to an end, you can subscribe here.

Try before you buy

Free

7 day trial access

Take a Free Trial

All the news that moves the needle in pharma and biotech
Exclusive features, podcasts, interviews, data analyses and commentary from our global network of life sciences reporters.
Receive The Pharma Letter daily news bulletin, free forever.

Become a subscriber

£820

Or £77 per month

Subscribe Now

Unfettered access to industry-leading news, commentary and analysis in pharma and biotech.
Updates from clinical trials, conferences, M&A, licensing, financing, regulation, patents & legal, executive appointments, commercial strategy and financial results.
Daily roundup of key events in pharma and biotech.
Monthly in-depth briefings on Boardroom appointments and M&A news.
Choose from a cost-effective annual package or a flexible monthly subscription

The Pharma Letter is an extremely useful and valuable Life Sciences service that brings together a daily update on performance people and products. It’s part of the key information for keeping me informed

Chairman, Sanofi Aventis UK