Ipsen will gain exclusive commercialization rights for the current and potential future Onivyde indications in the U.S., as well as the current licensing agreements with Shire for commercialization rights ex-U.S. and PharmaEngine for Taiwan. The transaction also includes Merrimack’s commercial and manufacturing infrastructure, and generic doxorubicin HCl liposome injection.
Under the terms of the agreement, Ipsen will pay $575 million cash at closing plus up to $450 million upon the approval of potential additional indications for Onivyde in the U.S. The deal is expected to close by the end of the first quarter of 2017.
According to Ipsen, there are significant commercial synergies to be realized by integrating the Onivyde franchise with the existing Ipsen U.S. oncology commercial infrastructure, which has strong expertise and a proven track record with Somatuline. As a result, this transaction strengthens Ipsen’s Oncology franchise and accelerates both its near- and long-term growth trajectory and profitability.
Ipsen will be responsible for advancing the ongoing Onivyde clinical development program, which includes a phase 2 trial in first-line previously untreated metastatic pancreatic cancer, a phase 2/3 trial in relapsed small-cell lung cancer, and a phase 1 pilot trial in breast cancer.