Celgene Completes $7.2 Bn Receptos Acquisition

Celgene Corporation has closed an its previously announced $7.2 billion acquisition of Receptos, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company developing drug candidates for immune and metabolic diseases.

Receptos’ lead product is ozanimod, an oral, once-daily, selective small-molecule sphingosine 1-phosphate 1 and 5 receptor modulator (S1P) targeted for treating inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), ulcerative colitis (UC), and relapsing multiple sclerosis (RMS). The drug is in Phase III development for UC with data expected in 2018. Phase III trials for RMS are ongoing, and data are expected in the first half of 2017 to support a RMS approval in 2018. Additionally, ozanimod is being studied to treat irritable bowel syndrome. In an investor call outlining the deal, Celgene estimated that pending approval in all indications, peak sales opportunity for ozanimod is between $4 billion and $6 billion.

Ozanimod is a selective immune-inflammatory modulator of the G protein-coupled receptors sphingosine 1-phosphate 1 and 5, which are part of the sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) receptor family. Treatment with S1P receptor modulators interferes with S1P signaling and blocks the response of lymphocytes (a type of white blood cell) to exit signals from the lymph nodes, sequestering them within the nodes. The result is a downward modulation of circulating lymphocytes and anti-inflammatory activity by inhibiting cell migration to sites of inflammation. Patents supporting ozanimod were exclusively licensed to Receptos from The Scripps Research Institute. Receptos is also developing RPC4046, an anti-interleukin-13 (IL-13) antibody for (EoE), an allergic/immune-mediated orphan disease, as well as other pipeline and pre-clinical stage compounds.

Source: Celgene

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