Servier’s USD 2.5b Day One Bio acquisition gives control of glioma drug Ojemda

Edited by Robert McTiernan··2 min read

Servier is moving to acquire US biotech Day One Biopharmaceuticals (Nasdaq: DAWN) for around USD 2.5 billion. The an all-cash transaction will position the French pharmaceutical group to as a leading franchise in pediatric low-grade glioma while expanding its oncology pipeline across early-stage through Phase III programs targeting adult and pediatric cancers with unmet need.

The transaction, announced March 6, 2026, is structured as a straightforward cash acquisition, priced at USD 21.50 per share. Closing is expected in the Q2 2026, subject to customary conditions.

Tovorafenib anchors the transaction

The acquisition is driven primarily by tovorafenib (Ojemda), an oral brain-penetrant pan-RAF kinase inhibitor approved in the United States for pediatric low-grade glioma harboring RAF alterations.

Unlike first-generation BRAF inhibitors, tovorafenib binds the inactive kinase conformation of RAF, allowing it to inhibit both monomeric and dimeric RAF signaling. This type II inhibition avoids paradoxical MAPK pathway activation observed with earlier agents.

Clinical data from the FIREFLY-1 registrational study supported the drug’s approval in 2024. The therapy generated USD 155.4 million in net product revenue in 2025, according to Day One.

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Brain penetration has been a key differentiator for the drug, as the blood-brain barrier has historically limited the effectiveness of kinase inhibitors in central nervous system tumors.

In addition to tovorafenib, Day One brings a developing pipeline that includes DAY301, a PTK7-targeting antibody-drug conjugate and emiltatug ledadotin (Emi-Le), a B7-H4 ADC in Phase 1 development for adenoid cystic carcinoma. These assets extend Servier’s reach into solid tumors and antibody-drug conjugate therapeutics.

Strategic context

The acquisition aligns with Servier’s strategy to expand its oncology portfolio focused on rare and difficult-to-treat cancers. The company already markets several oncology drugs including Tibsovo, Onivyde, Lonsurf, and Voranigo, and maintains a broad development pipeline.

Servier has also been investing in next-generation RAF/RAS pathway inhibitors, including a 2025 licensing agreement with Black Diamond Therapeutics covering the Phase 1 RAF/RAS inhibitor BDTX-4933.

With tovorafenib already commercialized and additional pipeline assets in development, the Day One acquisition provides Servier with both near-term revenue and longer-term oncology pipeline expansion.