 has acquired Lumena Pharmaceuticals, a biopharmaceutical company with rare disease pipeline assets, for $260 million.

According to the company, the acquisition of Lumena will expand Shire’s rare disease pipeline and provide future opportunities for Shire’s gastrointestinal business. Lumena Pharmaceuticals brings to Shire two new oral therapeutic compounds for hepatic diseases; LUM001, in Phase 2 with four potential orphan indications and LUM002, ready to enter Phase 2 later in 2014.

LUM001 and LUM002 are both inhibitors of the apical sodium-dependent bile acid transporter, which is primarily responsible for recycling bile acids from the intestine to the liver.

Shire does not expect the acquisition of Lumena to result in a change to its previously stated earnings guidance for 2014.

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Shire expands rare disease portfolio with acquisition of Lumena Pharmaceuticals.