Burlington, Mass. — PharmaEssentia Corporation, a global biopharmaceutical company headquartered in Taiwan, has acquired FORUS Therapeutics Inc., a Canadian specialty pharmaceutical company, in a transaction valued at $36.5 million.
The acquisition expands PharmaEssentia’s North American commercial footprint and strengthens its presence in Canada’s hematology-oncology and myeloproliferative neoplasm market as the company works to accelerate commercialization of BESREMi, or ropeginterferon alfa-2b.
PharmaEssentia entered into a commercial licensing agreement with FORUS for BESREMi in Canada in 2024. FORUS has an established presence in Canada’s hematology and oncology sector, with regulatory, medical, commercial and market-access infrastructure.
FORUS submitted a New Drug Submission to Health Canada for ropeginterferon alfa-2b for polycythemia vera in July 2025, with regulatory approval expected in the third quarter of 2026. A submission for the additional indication of essential thrombocythemia is also being prepared.
By acquiring FORUS, PharmaEssentia will integrate Canadian regulatory and medical affairs, marketing and commercial channel resources. The company said the deal will strengthen its position for BESREMi and future products in Canada.
The acquisition also gives PharmaEssentia an opportunity to explore market synergies in Canada with FORUS’s other partner, Karyopharm, and its lead asset, XPOVIO.
“This acquisition is the culmination of a strong and proven partnership with the FORUS team,” said Dr. Ko-Chung Lin, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of PharmaEssentia. “By bringing their regulatory expertise, market relationships, and medical/commercial capabilities fully in-house, we are best positioned to accelerate BESREMi®’s availability to patients with MPN across Canada, and to build a durable North American platform for our growing portfolio.”
The FORUS team brings more than 25 years of hematology and oncology commercialization experience, with backgrounds at Celgene, Roche, Pfizer and other pharmaceutical companies. The team has launched more than 10 products, generating more than C$2 billion in cumulative sales.
FORUS CEO Kevin Leshuk spent 13 years at Celgene, where he established the Canadian subsidiary and built a hematology-oncology team that launched multiple oncology therapies.
“Joining PharmaEssentia marks an exciting new chapter and opportunity for the FORUS team,” said Kevin Leshuk, CEO of FORUS Therapeutics. “Our respective organizations share a deep commitment to the hematology community and to bringing ropeginterferon alfa-2b to the Canadian patients who need it. This acquisition now provides the local team the opportunity to build upon the existing experience with XPOVIO and leverage combined capabilities, infrastructure, and expertise as we build a leading MPN and hematology-oncology franchise in Canada.”
PharmaEssentia said it remains focused on advancing innovation, building international partnerships and expanding access to therapies for patients worldwide.
