Humacyte Goes Public Via SPAC
Humacyte, Inc. announced last week it is merging with Alpha Healthcare Acquisition Corp. (NASDAQ: AHAC), a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC). Shareholders of Humacyte will get an aggregate of 80 million shares of AHAC’s common stock, or roughly $800 million. Humacyte is a clinical-stage biotechnology platform company developing universally implantable bioengineered human tissue on a commercial scale. The company develops and manufactures acellular tissues to treat a wide range of diseases, injuries and chronic conditions. Humacyte’s initial opportunity, a portfolio of human acellular vessels (HAVs), is currently in late-stage clinical trials targeting multiple vascular... Read More »
Horizon Therapeutics Acquires Viela Bio
Horizon Therapeutics plc (NASDAQ: HZNP) is a relatively new player in the healthcare M&A market. According to search results in our Healthcare Deal Database, the company first reported a deal in April 2020, acquiring Curzion Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a San Diego-based biotechnology firm developing treatments for rare fibrotic diseases, for a modest $45 million. However, Horizon Therapeutics is back with a new deal, buying Viela Bio, Inc. in a $3.05 billion deal. Viela Bio is a biotechnology company dedicated to the discovery, development and commercialization of novel treatments for autoimmune and severe inflammatory diseases. The company has a substantial pipeline focused on autoimmune... Read More »
AstraZeneca Buys Alexion In $39 Billion-Mega Deal
The global pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca plc (NYSE: AZN) is back with its fifth deal of the year, and its biggest one at that. AstraZeneca is buying Boston, Massachusetts-based Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: ALXN) for $39 billion. Alexion is a global biopharmaceutical company that has pioneered complement inhibition for a broad spectrum of immune-mediated rare diseases caused by uncontrolled activation of the complement system, a vital part of the immune system. According to the terms of the agreement, Alexion shareholders will receive $60 cash and 2.1243 AstraZeneca American Depositary Shares (ADS) per share (each ADS equals 1/2 AZN share). Based on AstraZeneca’s... Read More »
Merck Strikes Another Oncology Deal
Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE: MRK) is back with another oncology deal. The global pharmaceutical giant has announced it is acquiring OncoImmune for $425 million in cash upfront. OncoImmune is a privately-held, clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company that is actively engaged in the discovery and development of novel biopharmaceuticals for the treatment of cancer and autoimmune disease. OncoImmune recently announced positive top-line findings from a Phase 3 study evaluating its lead therapeutic candidate CD24Fc for the treatment of patients with COVID-19. Under the terms of the agreement, OncoImmune shareholders will also be eligible to receive sales-based payments and payments contingent on... Read More » Merck Boosts Oncology Portfolio
The pharmaceutical giant Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE: MRK) has announced a new acquisition, prepping up its oncology product portfolio. Merck purchased VelosBio, a privately held clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company committed to developing first-in-class cancer therapies, for $2.75 billion in cash. VelosBio’s lead investigational candidate, VLS-101, is currently being evaluated in a Phase 1 and a Phase 2 clinical trial for the treatment of patients with hematologic malignancies and solid tumors, respectively. The transaction is expected to close by the end of 2020. Merck has been building up its oncology portfolio in recent months, trying to remain competitive in the growing market,... Read More »