UCB Buys Ra Pharma
UCB buys Ra Pharma.
UCB buys Ra Pharmaceuticals for $2.1 billion.
Ra Pharma is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company leveraging a proprietary peptide chemistry platform to develop new therapeutics for the healing of diseases caused by excessive or uncontrolled activation of the complement system, a critical part of the innate immune system. Their most developed therapy is for myasthenia gravis, a so-called orphan disease caused when antibodies disrupt communication between nerves and muscles.
Beyond myasthenia gravis, the deal allows UCB to offer new treatments for rare diseases in neurology and immunology, and different delivery systems, such as extended-release and orally available product. The joint portfolio will offer synergies in the outreach to people with rare diseases and the health care market.
Jean-Christophe Tellier of UCB said: ‘Ra Pharma is a strategic fit addressing areas of UCB’s patient value growth strategy. Upon closing, the acquisition will add to our strong internal growth opportunities – six potential product launches in the next five years, strengthening our neurology and immunology franchises with late and early-state pipeline projects. Also, the combination will give us the opportunity to become a leader in treating people living with myasthenia gravis, an autoantibody-mediated neurological orphan disease with a high unmet medical need, as well as adding a highly productive technology platform to our innovation engine.’
Doug Treco of Ra Pharmaceuticals said: ‘UCB shares our commitment to the rare disease patient community and our goal of developing novel, accessible, and cost-effective therapies in the areas of immunology and neurology. I firmly believe it's the right partner for us to advance new treatment options from our unique early and late-stage pipeline to patients. Ra Pharma’s technology platform is an ideal addition to UCB’s leading innovation capabilities, and our scientists are looking forward to working with the entire team at UCB.’
Bank of America Merrill Lynch and Lazard served as financial advisers to UCB. Covington & Burling served as legal adviser.
Centerview Partners served as financial adviser to Ra Pharma. Latham & Watkins served as legal adviser.
UCB buys Ra Pharmaceuticals for $2.1 billion.
Ra Pharma is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company leveraging a proprietary peptide chemistry platform to develop new therapeutics for the healing of diseases caused by excessive or uncontrolled activation of the complement system, a critical part of the innate immune system. Their most developed therapy is for myasthenia gravis, a so-called orphan disease caused when antibodies disrupt communication between nerves and muscles.
Beyond myasthenia gravis, the deal allows UCB to offer new treatments for rare diseases in neurology and immunology, and different delivery systems, such as extended-release and orally available product. The joint portfolio will offer synergies in the outreach to people with rare diseases and the health care market.
Jean-Christophe Tellier of UCB said: ‘Ra Pharma is a strategic fit addressing areas of UCB’s patient value growth strategy. Upon closing, the acquisition will add to our strong internal growth opportunities – six potential product launches in the next five years, strengthening our neurology and immunology franchises with late and early-state pipeline projects. Also, the combination will give us the opportunity to become a leader in treating people living with myasthenia gravis, an autoantibody-mediated neurological orphan disease with a high unmet medical need, as well as adding a highly productive technology platform to our innovation engine.’
Doug Treco of Ra Pharmaceuticals said: ‘UCB shares our commitment to the rare disease patient community and our goal of developing novel, accessible, and cost-effective therapies in the areas of immunology and neurology. I firmly believe it's the right partner for us to advance new treatment options from our unique early and late-stage pipeline to patients. Ra Pharma’s technology platform is an ideal addition to UCB’s leading innovation capabilities, and our scientists are looking forward to working with the entire team at UCB.’
Bank of America Merrill Lynch and Lazard served as financial advisers to UCB. Covington & Burling served as legal adviser.
Centerview Partners served as financial adviser to Ra Pharma. Latham & Watkins served as legal adviser.
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