Roche has agreed to acquire biotech company 89bio in a deal valued up to $3.5 billion, including upfront and contingent milestone payments. The acquisition centers on pegozafermin, an FGF21 analogue in late-stage development for metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), a liver disease characterized by progressive fibrosis and inflammation. Roche aims to extend its cardiovascular and metabolic disease portfolio with this promising candidate, aligning with growing pharmaceutical interest in addressing MASH. The deal follows recent regulatory approvals and strong market demand for MASH therapies.