Argenx NV announced that it will acquire Forte Biosciences Inc, a Dallas‑based biotechnology firm, in a cash transaction valued at $2.2 billion. The agreement sets the purchase price at $77 per Forte share, representing roughly a 40 % premium to Forte’s closing price on the preceding Friday. In pre‑market trading following the announcement, Forte’s stock surged nearly 39 % to $76.11, while Argenx’s shares slipped 0.5 % to $913.31.
The acquisition is intended to broaden Argenx’s autoimmune pipeline beyond its flagship product Vyvgart by adding a clinical‑stage therapy that targets vitiligo and celiac disease, with potential applicability to other autoimmune disorders. The transaction follows a late‑stage study discontinuation earlier in the year, where Argenx halted a trial evaluating Vyvgart for an eye disease.
Both companies’ boards of directors have unanimously approved the deal, and the parties expect the transaction to close in the third quarter of 2026. Argenx’s share price has risen more than 57 % over the past twelve months, and Forte’s shares have appreciated more than fourfold during the same period.