PharmiWeb Recruiter Blog

• Gyroscope Therapeutics to be acquired for up to $1.5 billion
• Sale generates IRR of 55% for Syncona
• Agreement reached for Gyroscope Therapeutics to be acquired by Novartis for up to $1.5 billion (£1.1 billion1) with an upfront cash payment of $800 million (£604 million) and up to $700 million (£528 million) in cash potentially due upon the achievement of certain milestones
• Syncona co-founded Gyroscope in 2016, building and funding it through to this successful sale to Novartis
• Upfront cash proceeds for Syncona at closing anticipated to be £334 million2, which will represent a £180 million uplift (27p per share) to the current holding value3; a 3.0 multiple of original cost and 55% IRR4
• Ongoing exposure to Gyroscope’s development based on the achievement of milestones, with the potential to generate a further £255 million of proceeds for Syncona; if received in full, proceeds anticipated to be £589 million, a 5.2 multiple of original cost

Syncona Ltd, a leading healthcare company focused on founding, building and funding global leaders in life science, today announces that an agreement has been reached to sell its portfolio company Gyroscope Therapeutics Holdings plc ("Gyroscope") to Novartis, a leading global medicines company, for up to $1.5 billion (£1.1 billion) on a cash and debt free basis, with an upfront payment of $800 million (£604 million) and up to $700 million (£528 million) potentially due upon the achievement of certain customary milestones related to clinical development, regulatory approvals and reimbursement.

• Adds promising pipeline of T-cell engagers and cytokine therapies with lead candidate AMX-818 expected to enter the clinic in early 2022
• Provides access to Amunix Pro-XTEN^TM, XPAT^®, and XPAC^TM technology, complementary to Sanofi’s existing R&D platforms

PARIS – December 21, 2021 – Sanofi announced today that it has entered into an agreement to acquire Amunix Pharmaceuticals, Inc., an immuno-oncology company leveraging its proprietary, clinically validated XTEN^® and innovative universal protease-releasable masking technology platform, Pro-XTEN^TM, to discover and develop transformative T-cell engagers (TCE) and cytokine therapies for patients with cancer. Amunix’s pipeline, which includes lead candidate, AMX-818, a masked HER2-directed TCE, offers a strong strategic fit with Sanofi’s focus on developing potentially transformative cancer therapies in immuno-oncology. Under the terms of the agreement, Sanofi will acquire Amunix for an upfront payment of approximately $1 billion and up to $225 million upon achievement of certain future development milestones. The acquisition supports Sanofi’s efforts to accelerate and expand its contributions to innovative medicines for oncology patients, with approximately 20 molecules currently in development. 

• Chord Therapeutics was launched by Omega Funds in October 2020 to develop new oral treatments for rare neuroinflammatory diseases
• Merck to accelerate development of Chord’s innovative pipeline for generalized Myasthenia Gravis (gMG) and Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorder (NMOSD)
• ‍Focused expansion in neuroinflammatory diseases builds on Merck’s existing neurology portfolio in Multiple Sclerosis (MS) 

Geneva, December 20, 2021: Chord Therapeutics (Chord), a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company developing drugs for rare neuroinflammatory diseases, today announces that it is being acquired by Merck, a leading science and technology company. The strategic acquisition enables Merck to expand its neurology pipeline to develop Chord’s lead drug candidate, CRD1 (cladribine), for the treatment of gMG and NMOSD

• EQT Private Equity and Goldman Sachs Asset Management committed to supporting Parexel’s Patients-First focus, track record of clinical excellence and dedication to quality
• Newly-appointed Board of Directors brings vast experience across life sciences, digital transformation and innovation to guide next phase of transformational journey
• EQT Private Equity and Goldman Sachs Asset Management to back existing management team led by CEO Jamie Macdonald

BOSTON and Durham, N.C. Nov. 15, 2021 — Parexel, a leading global clinical research organization (CRO) focused on development and delivery of innovative new therapies to advance patient health, today announced the completion of its acquisition by EQT IX fund (“EQT Private Equity”) and funds managed by the Private Equity business within Goldman Sachs Asset Management (“Goldman Sachs”) from Pamplona Capital Management LP (“Pamplona”) for $8.5 billion. Jamie Macdonald will continue to serve as CEO of Parexel, supported by the current executive team and the company’s newly-appointed Board of Directors, which brings a breadth of experience across life sciences, digital transformation and innovation.

• Agreement Announced on the Australian Stock Exchange and SIX Swiss Exchange 14 December, 2021
• Expands CSL’s leadership across an attractive portfolio focused on Renal Disease, and Iron Deficiency
• Complements CSL’s existing therapeutic focus areas including Hematology and Thrombosis, Cardiovascular-Metabolic, and Transplant, and high quality pipeline
• CSL’s global scale, R&D capabilities and resources augment the delivery of Vifor Pharma’s products to patients globally
• All-cash tender offer of US$179.25 per Vifor Pharma share, representing an aggregate equity value for Vifor Pharma of US$11.7 billion / A$16.4 billion¹
• Tender offer is unanimously recommended for acceptance by Vifor Pharma's Board of Directors
• Patinex AG, Vifor Pharma's largest shareholder holding 23% of Vifor Pharma’s share capital, has agreed to tender its shares
• Expected to be low-to-mid teens NPATA per share accretive in the first full year of CSL ownership² , including full run rate cost synergies³
• US$12.3 billion / A$17.2 billion all-cash acquisition consideration⁴  to be funded through a combination of A$6.3 billion (US$4.5 billion) fully underwritten Placement, US$6.0 billion / A$8.4 billion new debt and existing cash / undrawn facilities.

MELBOURNE, Australia and ST. GALLEN SWITZERLAND 14 December 2021 – Global biotechnology leader CSL Limited (ASX: CSL; USOTC:CSLLY) and Vifor Pharma Ltd (SIX:VIFN; ISIN:CH0364749348), a global specialty pharmaceutical company with leadership in Iron Deficiency, Nephrology & Cardio-Renal Therapies, today announced that they have entered into a definitive agreement for CSL to launch an all-cash public tender offer to acquire all publicly held Vifor Pharma shares for US$179.25 per Vifor Pharma share, for an aggregate equity value for Vifor Pharma of US$11.7 / A$16.4 billion.

• Proposed acquisition offerspotentially new, differentiated best-in-class approach to address unmet need for a broader number of patients with immuno-inflammatory diseases
• Expands innovative pipeline potentially enhancing growth through 2025 and beyond
• Transaction valued at $100 per Arena share in cash, for a total equity value of approximately $6.7 billion
• Pfizer to host analyst and investor call at 10am EST today with Pfizer I&I executives

NEW YORK & PARK CITY, Utah--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Pfizer Inc. (NYSE: PFE) and Arena Pharmaceuticals, Inc (Nasdaq: ARNA) today announced that the companies have entered into a definitive agreement under which Pfizer will acquire Arena, a clinical stage company developing innovative potential therapies for the treatment of several immuno-inflammatory diseases. Under the terms of the agreement, Pfizer will acquire all the outstanding shares of Arena for $100 per share in an all-cash transaction for a total equity value of approximately $6.7 billion. The boards of directors of both companies have unanimously approved the transaction.

• Up to 100 million mRNA vaccine doses could be produced in Australia each year
• Manufacturing facility to provide access to domestically manufactured vaccines against respiratory viruses
• Collaboration will support Australia with direct access to rapid pandemic response capabilities

CAMRIDGE, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Moderna, Inc. (Nasdaq: MRNA), a biotechnology company pioneering messenger RNA (mRNA) therapeutics and vaccines, today announced an agreement in principle with the Australian Government to build a state-of-the-art messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccine manufacturing facility in Victoria, Australia including access to Moderna’s mRNA development engine. The contemplated framework would build the foundation to support Australia with direct access to rapid pandemic response capabilities and to provide access to Moderna’s vaccines in development for respiratory viruses. Moderna and the Australian government are committed to finalize the agreement.

CHICAGO -- Advanced Clinical, a global clinical research services organization, is pleased to announce the company’s continued international expansion with the opening of a new office in Toronto, Canada.