This blog is another installment in a series, Innovations Advanced by M&A, that underscores the unique role of mergers and acquisitions in promoting a competitive and innovative life sciences ecosystem for patients. You can find previous blogs in this series here.
In America’s life sciences industry, mergers and acquisitions (M&A) are a crucial engine for turning scientific discoveries into approved medicines for patients. One example of this is AstraZeneca’s acquisition of ZS Pharma.
ZS Pharma was founded in 2008 in Fort Worth, Texas, with a focus on developing ZS-9 (Lokelma), an investigational therapy designed to treat hyperkalemia. Impacting roughly 5% of Americans, hyperkalemia is a life-threatening condition characterized by elevated potassium levels in the blood, which can cause weakness, paralysis, cardiac arrest and potentially death.
After successfully advancing Lokelma through clinical trials, ZS Pharma sought to partner with AstraZeneca to bring the treatment to patients globally. The company was acquired by AstraZeneca in 2015, a deal which paired ZS Pharma’s specialized scientific expertise with AstraZeneca’s global development, regulatory and commercialization capabilities.
“This agreement will allow us to maximize the potential of ZS-9, drawing on AstraZeneca’s long-standing expertise in developing and commercializing medicines for cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. We look forward to joining AstraZeneca and to working together to bring this important treatment for hyperkalaemia to the global market, helping to meet an important unmet medical need for patients.” – Robert Alexander, Chief Executive Officer, ZS Pharma
Following the acquisition, AstraZeneca has continued to invest in bringing this life-saving therapy to patients. And in 2025, the company announced a $445 million investment in manufacturing facilities for Lokelma in Coppell, Texas. In addition to doubling the production and global availability of Lokelma, this investment is expected to continue to support new high-paying job opportunities and economic growth for the local and state economy.
“Our manufacturing facility in Coppell serves as both a critical pillar in global healthcare and has played an important role in supporting the local workforce over the past 10 years. The expansion underscores our commitment to patients and support for Texas’ long-term vision for scientific growth and innovation.” – Jim Fox, Senior Vice President, Americas Supply Operations, AstraZeneca
This example highlights how life sciences M&A fuels innovation, competition and growth for America’s life sciences industry. To sustain America’s global leadership in life sciences innovation, policymakers must recognize and support the unique and fundamental role of pro-competitive life sciences M&A.