Pfizer to acquire Biohaven Pharma for $11.6 billion

Pfizer entered into a definitive agreement under which Pfizer will acquire Biohaven for 11.6 billion $. Biohen is the maker of Nurtec ODT, an innovative dual-acting migraine therapy approved for both acute treatment and episodic prevention of migraine in adults.

Under the terms of the agreement, Pfizer will acquire all outstanding shares of Biohaven not already owned by Pfizer for $148.50 per share in cash. Biohaven common shareholders, including Pfizer, will also receive 0.5 of a share of New Biohaven, a new publicly traded company that will retain Biohaven’s non-CGRP development stage pipeline compounds, per Biohaven common share. The boards of directors of both Biohaven and Pfizer have unanimously approved the transaction. Pfizer will pay transaction consideration totalling approximately $11.6 billion in cash. Pfizer will also make payments at closing to settle Biohaven’s third party debt and for the redemption of all outstanding shares of Biohaven’s redeemable preferred stock. The $148.50 cash consideration represents a premium of approximately 33% to Biohaven’s volume weighted average selling price of $111.70 over the three months prior to the announcement of the transaction.

The proposed transaction includes the acquisition of Biohaven’s calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) programmes including:

Rimegepant: Approved in the United States under the trade name, Nurtec ODT, for both the acute treatment of migraine and preventive treatment of episodic migraine; Approved in the European Union under the trade name, Vydura, for both acute treatment of migraine and prophylaxis of episodic migraine.

Zavegepant: On track for a 2Q2022 acceptance (based on March 2022 submission) in the US as an intranasal spray for the acute treatment of migraine and in development as an oral soft gel for chronic migraine prevention; A portfolio of five pre-clinical CGRP assets.

Following the closing, New Biohaven will continue to operate under the Biohaven name. New Biohaven will be led by Vlad Coric, MD, as Chairman and CEO, and include other members of the current management team of Biohaven. Biohaven common shareholders will receive, for each Biohaven share, 0.5 of a share of New Biohaven distributed via a pro rata distribution of SEC-registered, publicly listed shares. At distribution, New Biohaven will be capitalized with $275 million of cash. New Biohaven will also have the right to receive tiered royalties from Pfizer on any annual net sales of rimegepant and zavegepant in the United States in excess of $5.25 billion.

Pfizer expects to finance the transaction with existing cash on hand.

Pfizer’s acquisition of Biohaven is subject to the completion of the New Biohaven spin-off transaction and other customary closing conditions, including receipt of regulatory approvals and approval by Biohaven’s shareholders. The companies expect the transaction to close by early 2023.

J.P. Morgan acted as Pfizer’s financial advisor for the transaction with Ropes & Gray LLP acting as its legal advisor. Centerview Partners acted as Biohaven’s financial advisor for the transaction with Sullivan & Cromwell LLP acting as its legal advisor.

Biohaven is a commercial-stage biopharmaceutical company with a portfolio of innovative, best-in-class therapies to improve the lives of patients with debilitating neurological and neuropsychiatric diseases, including rare disorders.