Astellas Enters into Definitive Agreement to Acquire Iveric Bio

-Companies to Create World-Class Ophthalmology Entity-
-Lead Program, Avacincaptad Pegol for the Potential Treatment of Geographic Atrophy with PDUFA Goal Date of August 19, 2023-
-Acquisition advances Astellas’
Primary Focus on “Blindness & Regeneration”-
-Acquisition price of US$40 per share in cash,
representing a total equity value of approximately US$5.9 billion-

Tokyo and Parsippany, New Jersey, April 30, 2023 - Astellas Pharma Inc. (TSE: 4503, President and CEO: Naoki Okamura, “Astellas”) and Iveric bio, Inc. (NASDAQ: ISEE, CEO: Glenn P. Sblendorio, “Iveric Bio”) today announced that on April 29, 2023 (Japan time), the Companies have entered into a definitive agreement under which Astellas through Berry Merger Sub, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Astellas US Holding, Inc., has agreed to acquire 100% of the outstanding shares of Iveric Bio for US$40.00 per share in cash for a total equity value of approximately US$5.9 billion (the “Acquisition”). In the Acquisition, Iveric Bio will become an indirectly wholly-owned subsidiary of Astellas. The total equity value of Iveric Bio in the Acquisition assumes that there are approximately 148.2 million outstanding shares of Iveric Bio common stock on a fully diluted basis. The purchase price represents a premium of 64% to Iveric Bio’s unaffected closing share price of US$24.33 on March 31, 2023, and a premium of 75% to Iveric Bio’s 30 trading day volume weighted average price as of March 31, 2023. The Boards of Directors of both companies have unanimously approved the transaction.

“We are pleased to reach an agreement with Iveric Bio, a company with exceptional expertise in the R&D of innovative therapeutics in the ophthalmology field.” said Naoki Okamura, President and CEO, Astellas. “Iveric Bio has promising programs including Avacincaptad Pegol (“ACP”), an important program for Geographic Atrophy (“GA”) secondary to Age-Related Macular Degeneration (“AMD”), and capabilities across the entire value chain in the ophthalmology field. We believe that this acquisition will enable us to deliver greater VALUE to patients with ocular diseases at high risk of blindness.”

“This transaction with Astellas, a highly respected pharmaceutical company, demonstrates the significant value that we have built for our stockholders and recognizes the tremendous work by our dedicated team at Iveric Bio,” said Glenn P. Sblendorio, Chief Executive Officer of Iveric Bio. “The opportunity to create a world-class  entity with the ophthalmology  expertise and capabilities of Iveric Bio and the global reach and resources of Astellas is unique and has the potential to benefit patients worldwide suffering from blinding retinal diseases, including GA,” said Pravin U. Dugel, MD, President of Iveric Bio.

1.    Strategic Objectives of the Acquisition

Astellas aims to become a cutting-edge, VALUE-driven life science innovator to realize its VISION to be “on the forefront of healthcare change to turn innovative science into VALUE for patients.”Through Astellas’ R&D strategy, Focus Area Approach, it is working to create innovative drugs for diseases with high unmet medical need by identifying unique combinations of biology and therapeutic modality / technology from multiple perspectives. Currently, Astellas has identified five Primary Focuses, including “Blindness & Regeneration”, and is prioritizing investment resources in these areas. As such, this transaction is a key step in building Astellas’ product portfolio in this important area.

Iveric Bio focuses on the discovery and development of novel treatments in the field of ophthalmology. The company announced in February 2023 that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) accepted for filing a New Drug Application (“NDA”) for ACP for the treatment of GA secondary to AMD. The NDA has been granted priority review with a Prescription Drug User Fee Act (“PDUFA”) goal date of August 19, 2023.

ACP, a complement C5 inhibitor, is an investigational drug for GA secondary to AMD and has significant potential to deliver value to a large and underserved patient base. ACP met its primary efficacy endpoint (reduction of the rate of GA progression) with statistical significance across two pivotal clinical trials, (GATHER Clinical Trials)  and has received breakthrough therapy designation^*1 from the FDA for this indication.

Astellas expects that the acquisition of Iveric Bio will not only contribute to Astellas' FY2025 revenue targets set in its Corporate Strategic Plan 2021, but also, that ACP in conjunction with fezolinetant and PADCEV, is anticipated to be a revenue-generating pillar to help compensate for the decline in sales of XTANDI due to anticipated patent expiration later this decade.

In addition, the acquisition of Iveric Bio will provide a foundation of ophthalmology focused capabilities, including a multi-faceted commercial team, expansive network of experts in the ophthalmology field, established relationships with medical institutions, and the infrastructure and experience to drive our combined ophthalmology business going forward. Furthermore, through acquired capabilities, Astellas will accelerate pre-clinical and clinical development and commercialization activities to positively contribute to the goals of Primary Focus, "Blindness & Regeneration.”

Funds for the acquisition consist of newly procured funds from bank loans and issuing of commercial paper totaling approximately 800 billion yen and existing cash on hand. Astellas expects to repay this debt within the next five to seven years. The completion of the Acquisition is not subject to a financing condition. Astellas does not anticipate making any change in its dividend policy following the Acquisition.

The closing of the proposed Acquisition is subject to approval by Iveric Bio’s stockholders and other customary closing conditions, including receipt of required regulatory approvals. The companies expect to complete the Acquisition in the second quarter of Astellas’ fiscal year 2023 (third calendar quarter of 2023). A copy of the merger agreement regarding the proposed Acquisition will be filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) and will be publicly available on the SEC’s website at (http://www.sec.gov).

2.    Overview of Iveric Bio

* Includes holdings of its subsidiaries and affiliates; based on information from Iveric Bio’s definitive proxy statement filed on April 5, 2023, with the SEC in connection with Iveric Bio’s planned annual stockholder meeting for 2023
** Excerpt from Iveric Bio’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022, filed by Iveric Bio with the SEC on March 1, 2023
*** There were no sales since these were before the product launch

3.    Number of Iveric Bio shares to be acquired by Astellas, acquisition price, and status of shareholdings before and after the Acquisition

**** Acquisition amount includes the full amount required to purchase all outstanding options and restricted stock units 

4.    Schedule

***** Subject to applicable regulatory approvals

5.    Financial Impact of the Acquisition

The impact of the consummation of the Acquisition on Astellas’ financial results is not reflected in Astellas' consolidated financial forecasts for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2024, that were announced on April 27, 2023. Astellas is still reviewing the impact and will promptly announce any events that are to be publicly reported.

6.    Financial and Legal Advisors

J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, acting through its affiliate JPMorgan Securities Japan Co., Ltd., is acting as exclusive financial advisor to Astellas and Jones Day is acting as Astellas’ legal counsel.  BofA Securities, Inc. and Centerview Partners LLC are serving as Iveric Bio’s exclusive financial advisors and Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP is serving as Iveric Bio’s legal counsel, with Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr LLP advising on general corporate and licensing matters.

*1:  The FDA’s breakthrough therapy designation is intended to expedite the development and review of drugs for serious or life-threatening conditions. The criteria for breakthrough therapy designation require preliminary clinical evidence that demonstrates the drug may have substantial improvement on at least one clinically significant endpoint over available therapy. FDA will review the full data submitted to support approval of drugs designated as breakthrough therapies to determine whether the drugs are safe and effective for their intended use before they are approved for marketing.

Click below for a copy of the full press release