Global Briefs: Curium, J&J, BioNTech & More
A roundup of news from the large and mid-sized bio/pharmaceutical companies featuring Curium, Lantheus, Johnson & Johnson, BioNTech, Indivior and Supernus Pharma. Highlights below.
For the latest news roundup on small and Emerging Pharma companies, see Biotech Briefs.
M&A News
* Radiopharma Companies Curium, Lantheus in $8-Bn Merger Deal
* J&J Completes $1-Bn Acquisition of Firefly Bio
* Indivior, Supernus Pharma To Merge in $1-Bn Deal
Appointments
* BioNTech Names Sobi CEO as New CEO
M&A News
Radiopharma Companies Curium, Lantheus in $8-Bn Merger Deal
Curium, a Boston, Massachusetts-globally headquartered radiopharmaceutical company, and Lantheus, a Bedford, Massachusetts-base radiopharmaceutical company, have agreed to merge in a deal worth up to $8 billion. The combined company comprising Curium and Lantheus would create a radiopharmaceutical company spanning diagnostics and therapeutics, with the infrastructure and capabilities to serve in more than 70 countries.
Under the agreement, Curium US will acquire all of the outstanding shares of Lantheus for $102.50 per share in cash at closing, plus non-transferable contingent value rights providing for up to $12.00 per share in potential additional cash payments, subject to achievement of specified commercial milestones for Lantheus’ products through 2030. The transaction represents a total per share consideration of up to $114.50 and a total transaction value of up to approximately $8.0 billion. The Board of Directors of Lantheus has unanimously approved the transaction.
The transaction is expected to close in the first half of 2027, subject to satisfaction of customary closing conditions, including receipt of Lantheus shareholder approval and required regulatory approvals.
Source: Curium
J&J Completes $1-Bn Acquisition of Firefly Bio
Johnson & Johnson (J&J) has completed its $1-billion acquisition of Firefly Bio, a South San Francisco, California-based bio/pharmaceutical company specializing in degrader antibody conjugates (DACs).
The acquisition includes Firefly Bio’s Firelink proprietary platform for producing DACs, a new modality for cancer treatments, which combines properties of antibody drug conjugates (ADCs) with selective protein degraders to overcome limitations associated with each. Although traditional ADCs have favorable bioavailability and the ability to target cells, they often have a limited therapeutic index due to their broadly cytotoxic payloads and lack the ability to knock down specific intracellular proteins, according to information from FireFly Bio. With protein degraders, the converse applies: these therapies have intracellular selectivity, protein knock-down, and are highly catalytic but may have bioavailability issues and do not have the ability for cell-specific targeting.
Firefly’s proprietary platform uses catalytic protein degraders as the payloads of ADCs, and the company has proprietary linker technology to join these modalities. Firefly Bio debuted as a company with a $94-million financing round in February 2024, which among other investors, included Versant Ventures and Eli Lilly and Company. .
Source: Johnson & Johnson
Indivior, Supernus Pharma To Merge in $1-Bn Deal
Supernus Pharmaceuticals, a Rockville, Maryland-based bio/pharmaceutical company, and Indivior Pharmaceuticals, a Richmond, Virginia-based bio/pharmaceutical company, have agreed to merge in a $1-billion deal.
The combined company will have a commercial portfolio of 11 differentiated medicines across indications in psychiatry, neurology and addiction, with key growth products currently expected to continue growing well into the 2030s. The combined company is expected to generate pro forma net revenue of $2.2 billion and pro forma adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) of $888 million. The combined entity will be named Supernus.
Under the agreement, which has been unanimously approved by the Boards of Directors of both companies, Supernus Pharmaceuticals stockholders will receive 1.5401 common shares of Indivior Pharmaceuticals for each share of Supernus Pharmaceuticals they own. Indivior Pharmaceuticals stockholders will receive a one-time special cash dividend of $1.0 billion in aggregate immediately prior to closing of the merger.
Upon the close of the transaction, Indivior Pharmaceuticals’ stockholders will own approximately 56.5% of the combined company, and Supernus Pharmaceuticals’ stockholders 43.5%. Upon closing, Jack Khattar, Supernus Pharmaceuticals’ President and Chief Executive Officer, will serve as President, Chief Executive Officer and be a member of the Board of Directors of the combined company. Tony Kingsley, a member of Indivior’s Board of Directors, will serve as Board Chair of the combined company.
Source: Indivior Pharmaceuticals
Appointments
BioNTech Names Sobi CEO as New CEO
BioNTech, a Mainz, Germany-based CDMO, has appointed Guido Oelkers, Ph.D., currently CEO of Swedish Orphan Biovitrum (Sobi), as CEO, who will take office by February 1, 2027, at the latest. He will succeed Ugur Sahin, currently CEO of BioNTech.
Oelkers will remain active in his CEO role with Sobi until the end January 2027 at the latest. The Sobi’s Board of Directors has begun a process to secure a structured transition and to appoint a new CEO.
