Dublin, Ireland & San Diego, California, USA, August 10, 2026
Jazz Pharmaceuticals plc and Actio Biosciences, Inc. have announced a definitive agreement under which Jazz will acquire Actio Biosciences, expanding its rare epilepsy portfolio with ABS-1230, a clinical-stage precision therapy being developed for KCNT1-related epilepsy. The transaction includes an $820 million upfront payment and up to $500 million in contingent consideration tied to development and sales milestones. The acquisition is designed to strengthen Jazz’s position in rare and severe epilepsies while adding a potential first-in-class precision medicine to its development pipeline.
Jazz Adds Potential First-in-Class Epilepsy Therapy
Actio Biosciences’ lead clinical asset, ABS-1230, is an orally available small-molecule inhibitor of the KCNT1 ion channel being developed as a precision therapy for KCNT1-related epilepsy. KCNT1-related epilepsy is a rare genetic developmental and epileptic encephalopathy affecting approximately 2,500 patients in the United States. Patients can experience severe and treatment-resistant seizures, with disease frequently beginning during infancy and causing profound developmental and neurological impairments.
There are currently no FDA-approved therapies specifically for KCNT1+ epilepsy, creating a significant unmet medical need. According to the companies, ABS-1230 recently demonstrated meaningful seizure reductions in an early clinical proof-of-concept trial in children with KCNT1-related epilepsy. The ongoing Phase 1b/2a KYRON trial is designed to serve as the registrational study intended to support a potential U.S. New Drug Application submission. ABS-1230 has also received several FDA development designations, including Fast Track, Rare Pediatric Disease, and Orphan Drug Product designations. The candidate has additionally been accepted into the FDA’s Rare Disease Evidence Principles (RDEP) program, which is intended to facilitate development of therapies for ultra-rare diseases.
$820 Million Deal Expands Rare Disease Strategy
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Under the definitive merger agreement, Actio Biosciences shareholders will receive an $820 million upfront payment and could receive up to $500 million in potential approval and sales milestones. The transaction has been unanimously approved by the boards of both companies and is expected to close by the fourth quarter of 2026, subject to customary closing conditions. Jazz plans to finance the acquisition through a combination of cash on hand and existing financing facilities.
The transaction is structured to expand Jazz’s rare epilepsy capabilities while retaining a broader strategic focus on genetic rare neurological diseases. Concurrent with the acquisition, Actio will spin out a new privately held company containing certain management, employees, and assets, excluding ABS-1230, which will remain with Actio and be acquired by Jazz. The new company will receive funding from existing investors, while Jazz will retain a minority stake and certain related rights.
ABS-1230 Advances Precision Medicine Approach
ABS-1230 is designed to selectively inhibit KCNT1 and is being developed as a potential precision treatment for patients with KCNT1-related epilepsy. In preclinical studies, the candidate inhibited KCNT1 across evaluable pathogenic mutations, suggesting potential applicability across patients with KCNT1-related disease. Early clinical findings have also shown meaningful seizure reductions in children receiving ABS-1230.
Jazz’s acquisition builds on its existing presence in epilepsy, including its Epidiolex franchise, while adding an investigational therapy aimed at a genetically defined population with limited treatment options. Jazz and Actio believe the combination of Actio’s genetic medicine expertise with Jazz’s development and commercial capabilities could support continued advancement of ABS-1230. Beyond KCNT1-related epilepsy, the companies see potential opportunities to investigate ABS-1230 in additional genetic epilepsy indications. The acquisition therefore represents both a portfolio expansion and a strategic investment in precision therapies for rare neurological diseases.
Source: Jazz Pharmaceuticals, Actio Biosciences press release
