Pharmaceuticals Acquisitions in Massachusetts

SHINE Technologies has completed the acquisition of Lantheus' SPECT business, including the North Billerica, Massachusetts SPECT manufacturing facility and a portfolio of diagnostic radiopharmaceuticals (TechneLite, Cardiolite, NEUROLITE, Xenon Xe-133). SHINE named Michael Rossi CEO of SHINE SPECT USA, LLC and said the acquisition expands its nuclear medicine manufacturing capabilities and integrates with its Chrysalis Mo-99 production to strengthen isotope supply chain security.

Azurity Pharmaceuticals has acquired Sebela Pharmaceuticals' bowel preparation franchise, including two leading bowel prep therapies used for colonoscopies. The deal transfers Sebela's commercial team (more than 50 colleagues) and is intended to strengthen Azurity's gastroenterology product portfolio and U.S. market presence.

Japanese chemical manufacturer NOF Corporation completed a strategic minority investment in Phosphorex, a Hopkinton, Massachusetts-based drug-delivery CDMO backed by Ampersand Capital Partners. The investment will fund acceleration of Phosphorex's cGMP capabilities and strengthen collaboration on lipid nanoparticle (LNP) technologies and NOF's COATSOME SS series ionizable lipids.

Ono Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. completed a tender offer and merger to acquire all outstanding shares of Deciphera Pharmaceuticals, paying $25.60 per share for a total consideration of approximately $2.4 billion. Deciphera becomes a wholly owned subsidiary of Ono; Ono said the acquisition will strengthen its oncology R&D capabilities and commercialization footprint in the United States and Europe to accelerate pipeline and global expansion.

Zevra Therapeutics completed the acquisition of Acer Therapeutics in a stock-and-contingent-value-rights transaction, bringing the FDA-approved product OLPRUVA and clinical-stage candidate EDSIVO into Zevra's portfolio and transitioning Zevra to a commercial-stage rare disease company. The deal included Zevra's purchase of Acer's senior secured debt and issuance of approximately 2.96 million shares plus CVRs (up to $76 million), and was followed by a registered direct offering to a healthcare-focused investment fund.

Gurnet Point Capital and Novo Holdings completed the acquisition of Paratek Pharmaceuticals for $2.15 per share in cash plus a $0.85 CVR tied to NUZYRA sales, in a transaction valued at approximately $462 million including assumed debt. Oaktree provided $175 million of debt financing; following closing Paratek will be taken private and delisted from Nasdaq as the buyers aim to accelerate commercialization of NUZYRA and expand Paratek's anti-infective portfolio.

Revolution Medicines (NASDAQ: RVMD) has agreed to acquire EQRx (NASDAQ: EQRX) in an all‑stock transaction that will transfer more than $1 billion in net cash to Revolution’s balance sheet. The deal is intended to strengthen Revolution Medicines’ financial position to accelerate clinical development of its RAS(ON) inhibitor pipeline while EQRx will wind down most of its R&D programs post-closing.

Assertio Holdings, Inc. agreed to acquire all outstanding shares of Spectrum Pharmaceuticals, Inc. in an all-stock transaction with contingent value rights (CVRs), expected to close in Q3 2023. The deal combines Assertio's digital, non-personal commercial capabilities with Spectrum's in-person commercial team and ROLVEDON (eflapegrastim-xnst) to accelerate the product's launch and broaden the combined company's pharmaceutical portfolio.

Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited has completed the acquisition of all shares of Nimbus Lakshmi, Inc. (the TYK2 program subsidiary of Nimbus Therapeutics) for approximately $4.0 billion upfront, with up to $2.0 billion in potential milestone payments. The deal adds TAK-279 (NDI-034858), a selective oral TYK2 inhibitor moving into late‑stage development, strengthening Takeda's late‑stage pipeline in immune‑mediated diseases including psoriasis and other immunological indications.

LG Chem completed its all-cash acquisition of AVEO Oncology for an implied equity value of $571 million, making AVEO a wholly owned subsidiary of LG Chem Life Sciences Innovation Center. The deal expands LG Chem’s oncology capabilities and commercial footprint in the United States while positioning AVEO to leverage LG Chem’s R&D and manufacturing resources to advance its oncology pipeline and commercialization efforts.

Cambrex has acquired Snapdragon Chemistry, a Waltham, Massachusetts-based specialist in API batch and continuous flow process development. The deal brings Snapdragon's ~70–75 scientists and engineers (including 31 PhDs) and continuous flow capabilities into Cambrex's global CDMO platform to expand its process development and manufacturing offerings.

Innoviva, Inc. completed a cash tender offer to acquire La Jolla Pharmaceutical Company for $6.23 per share, valuing the deal at an implied enterprise value of approximately $149 million. The acquisition adds La Jolla's marketed infectious disease and hospital products (GIAPREZA and XERAVA) to Innoviva's healthcare portfolio to expand its commercial footprint in anti-infectives and hospital therapeutics.

Alcon Inc. agreed to acquire the commercial portfolio and related intellectual property for EYSUVIS and INVELTYS from Kala Pharmaceuticals for an upfront payment of $60 million, with Kala eligible for future commercial milestone payments. The asset sale allows Alcon to expand its ophthalmic drug franchises while enabling Kala to focus on its pipeline (KPI-012) and extend its cash runway.

Taiho Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. will acquire Cullinan Pearl Corp., a subsidiary of Cullinan Oncology, for $275 million upfront plus up to $130 million in regulatory milestone payments, and will co-develop and co-commercialize CLN-081/TAS6417. Cullinan Oncology will retain co-development and an option to co-commercialize in the U.S.; the deal provides Cullinan Oncology with cash to extend its runway and reduces its development and pre-commercialization costs.

Pharmacosmos A/S (Pharmacosmos Group) has agreed to acquire all assets of Boston-based clinical-stage AbFero Pharmaceuticals, Inc. under a share purchase agreement for up to $225 million including upfront, milestone, and royalty components. The acquisition adds AbFero’s SP-420 iron chelation program to Pharmacosmos’ iron-metabolism-focused R&D and commercial capabilities to accelerate development and commercialization for transfusional iron overload and related indications.

Pacira BioSciences agreed to acquire Flexion Therapeutics for $8.50 per share in cash plus one contingent value right (CVR) worth up to $8.00 per share tied to sales and regulatory milestones. The deal adds Flexion's marketed non-opioid OA knee pain therapy ZILRETTA and its clinical-stage pipeline to Pacira's non-opioid pain management portfolio; the transaction was expected to close in Q4 2021 and to be accretive to Pacira's earnings.

Covis Group S.à r.l. completed a cash tender offer and merger to acquire AMAG Pharmaceuticals, Inc. for $13.75 per share, taking AMAG private and delisting its NASDAQ shares. The acquisition adds AMAG’s marketed products (including Feraheme and Makena) and development-stage assets in women’s health and hematology/oncology to Covis’ specialty pharma portfolio, supported by financing from Capital One and investment funds managed by HPS Investment Partners.

Novacap has completed the acquisition of PCI Synthesis, a U.S.-based small-molecule CDMO with R&D and manufacturing sites in Massachusetts. The deal gives Novacap a U.S. footprint and strengthens its global pharmaceutical synthesis and commercial manufacturing capabilities.

Nicox S.A. agreed to acquire Aciex Therapeutics, Inc., a U.S.-based ophthalmic development company, in a share-exchange deal that will transfer 100% of Aciex to Nicox. The transaction (approved by Nicox shareholders on October 22, 2014) issues 20,627,024 new Nicox shares for Aciex equity and includes contingent value rights giving up to $55 million in potential additional consideration tied to FDA approvals, and is intended to broaden Nicox's ophthalmic development pipeline.