Pharma acquisition case study: Lundbeck to acquire Alder BioPharmaceuticals for US$ 1.95 billion

H. Lundbeck A/S (Lundbeck) and Alder BioPharmaceuticals (Alder) announced a definitive agreement for Lundbeck to acquire Alder.

About the deal:

• Under the terms of the agreement, Lundbeck will commence a tender offer for all outstanding shares of Alder, whereby Alder stockholders will be offered an upfront payment for US$ 18.00 per share in cash, along with one non-tradeable Contingent Value Right (CVR) that entitles them to an additional US$ 2.00 per share upon approval of eptinezumab by the European Medicines Agency (EMA), representing a total potential consideration of US$ 20.00 per share.
• The non-tradeable CVR will be paid upon the approval by the European Commission of a “Marketing Authorization Application” in the European Union, through the centralized procedure. The terms of the CVR payment reflect the parties’ agreement over the sharing of potential economic upside benefits from such approval. There can be no assurance such approval will occur or that any contingent payment will be made.
• The transaction is valued at up to US$ 1.95 billion (approximately DKK 13 billion) net of cash, on a fully diluted basis.

Strategic Insight on the deal: Why Lundbeck acquiring Alder BioPharmaceuticals?

• Alder is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company committed to transforming migraine treatment through the discovery, development and commercialization of novel therapeutic antibodies. Through this acquisition, Lundbeck will continue to expand the range of brain diseases for which the company brings its leading and best-in-class therapies to patients. In addition, by acquiring Alder, Lundbeck will further enhance its capabilities to deliver future biological innovations in brain diseases.
• Alder is developing eptinezumab for the preventive treatment of migraine in adults. Eptinezumab is an investigational monoclonal antibody (mAb) that is administered as a quarterly 30-minute IV infusion. Eptinezumab was designed for immediate and complete bioavailability with high specificity and strong binding for suppression of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), a neuropeptide believed to play a key role in mediating and initiating migraines. If approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), it will be the first IV CGRP therapy for migraine prevention. Alder is also developing ALD1910, a mAb designed to inhibit pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) for migraine prevention. Eptinezumab, together with ALD1910, will help establish Lundbeck as an emerging leader in migraine and other pain syndromes.
• Alder submitted a Biologics License Application (BLA) to the FDA for eptinezumab in February 2019 and the FDA has set a Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA) action date of 21 February 2020. Lundbeck expects to submit eptinezumab for approval to regulatory authorities in the European Union during 2020, followed by submissions for approval in other regions around the world including China and Japan.
• The proposed transaction is anticipated to significantly strengthen Lundbeck’s business as early as 2020, accelerating the build of Lundbeck’s late-stage pipeline and providing access to new capabilities in the monoclonal antibody field. The addition of eptinezumab will expand Lundbeck’s leading global brain disease franchise.
• Lundbeck intends to leverage its proven expertise in neuroscience, and its highly effective organization across 56 countries, to maximize the opportunity to serve patients suffering from brain diseases, including migraine.
• The acquisition of Alder will support Lundbeck’s aim to deliver long-term sustainable growth and is consistent with capital allocation priorities. The transaction is expected to accelerate and diversify Lundbeck’s revenue growth with the expected U.S. launch of eptinezumab for preventive treatment of episodic and chronic migraine in 2020 and the expected expansion of indications for the product. Lundbeck will gain an early-stage antibody, ALD1910, against a separate target for migraine and other pain syndromes with the potential to leverage the expertise in migraine across a broader product offering. Lundbeck will also gain access to a team with strong monoclonal antibody expertise, accelerating Lundbeck’s capabilities in this arena. The transaction is expected to be core EPS accretive in 2023 assuming FDA approval in the first quarter of 2020 followed by regulatory approvals in other regions including Europe.

Dr. Deborah Dunsire, president and CEO of Lundbeck, commented “Alder is an excellent strategic fit for Lundbeck’s focused expertise in brain diseases and organizational capabilities. This transaction flows from our strategic intent to Expand and Invest to Grow. Migraine prevention is an attractive indication for us that leverages our specialized commercial expertise in delivering medicines for brain diseases. We expect the global launch of eptinezumab for the preventive treatment of migraine, as well as the further potential development of the product in additional indications, to accelerate Lundbeck’s growth in the coming years.”