Novo Nordisk’s CEO dared Pfizer to bid more if it wanted obesity drug developer Metsera so badly. So Pfizer did, with a $10 billion bid that edges out what the Danish pharmaceutical giant was willing to pay for drug candidates and platform technologies that could pave the way for the next generation of obesity medications. Metsera accepted Pfizer’s sweetened offer , ending a bidding war that was escalating to lawsuits challenging the legality of Novo’s deal structure as well as growing concern from antitrust regulators about the risks tied to that proposed acquisition.

Metsera’s board of directors determined that Pfizer’s revised offer is best for shareholders, from the standpoint of both financial value and the certainty of deal closing, the New York-based biotech said late Friday. The

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