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Mergers and acquisitions grabbed the spotlight in the biotech sector this week after Jazz Pharmaceuticals JAZZ announced an agreement to acquire Chimerix CMRX. Meanwhile, other pipeline and regulatory updates were in focus.
The Week’s Most Important Biotech Stocks Stories:
CMRX Stock Surges on JAZZ Acquisition Bid
Shares of clinical-stage biotech Chimerix skyrocketed following an acquisition agreement from Jazz Pharmaceuticals for $8.55 per share in cash, aggregating to nearly $935 million.
The offer price reflects an approximately 72% premium based on CMRX’ closing price on Tuesday.
The acquisition will add CMRX’s lead pipeline drug, dordaviprone, to Jazz’s pipeline. This drug is currently under review by the FDA under the accelerated approval pathway as a potential treatment for adult and pediatric patients with recurrent H3 K27M-mutant diffuse glioma. A final decision is expected by Aug. 18, 2025.
Chimerix has another clinical candidate, ONC206, which is being evaluated in early-stage, dose-escalating studies for adult and pediatric patients with advanced central nervous system tumors.
The transaction has been approved by both companies and is expected to be closed in the second quarter of 2025.
The addition of Chimerix’s drug could help Jazz expand its oncology portfolio and further diversify its revenue stream.
MRNA Stock Pops on Updates
Shares of Moderna MRNA gained after a couple of SEC filings showed that two board members bought shares on the open market. Moderna’s CEO Stephane Bancel and director Paul Sagan acquired common stock worth $6 million.
MRNA also secured a legal victory in a patent dispute against Pfizer and BioNTech. A German court ruled that Pfizer and BioNTech infringed Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine patent. The ruling required both Pfizer and BioNTech to compensate the company, though the final amount will be determined in further proceedings.
Regulatory Update From GSK
GSK plc GSK announced that the FDA accepted its biologics license application (BLA) for pipeline candidate, depemokimab, in two indications.
The BLA is seeking approval of the candidate as an add-on maintenance treatment of asthma in adult and pediatric patients aged 12 years and older with type 2 inflammation characterized by an eosinophilic phenotype on medium to high-dose inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) plus another asthma controller. GSK is also looking to get the candidate approved as an add-on maintenance treatment in adult patients with inadequately controlled chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP).
The regulatory body has set a target action date of Dec. 16, 2025.