On June 10, AstraZeneca announced the acquisition of California-based Pearl Therapeutics to strengthen the company’s respiratory portfolio.
Pearl Therapeutics is a privately held company focused on the development of inhaled small-molecule therapeutics for respiratory disease. The acquisition will according to the press release give AstraZeneca access to a potential new treatment for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), currently in late-stage development, and inhaler and formulation technology that will provide a platform for future combination products. Pearl’s lead product, PT003, is a fixed dose combination of formoterol fumarate, a long-acting beta-2-agonist (LABA) and glycopyrrolate, a long-acting muscarinic antagonist (LAMA).
Under the terms of the agreement, AstraZeneca will acquire 100% of Pearl’s shares for initial consideration of $560 million payable on completion. In addition, deferred consideration of up to $450 million becomes payable if specified development and regulatory milestones in respect of any triple combination therapies and selected future products that AstraZeneca develops using Pearl’s technology platform are achieved. Sales-related payments of up to a further $140 million are payable if pre-agreed cumulative sales thresholds are exceeded resulting in a total potential acquisition cost of up to $1.15 billion. The proposed transaction is subject to customary regulatory approvals and is expected to close in the third quarter of 2013.
