BioCryst Pharmaceuticals And Presidio Pharmaceuticals To Merge

BioCryst Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:BCRX) and privately held Presidio Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today announced that the companies have signed a definitive merger agreement for Presidio to be acquired by BioCryst in an all-stock transaction. The transaction has been approved by the Boards of both companies. The transaction values Presidio at approximately $101 million, based on yesterday’s closing BioCryst share price of $4.11 per share. The transaction is expected to close in the first quarter of 2013, and is subject to customary conditions, including approval by BioCryst shareholders.

The merger creates a focused, clinical stage biopharmaceutical company with lead programs in high-value infectious and orphan disease indications: hepatitis C (HCV) and hereditary angioedema (HAE). This new entity would own a unique portfolio of three oral, pan-genotypic antivirals that are suitable either for development in combination with each other or in combination with other direct acting antivirals (DAAs) to treat patients with HCV infection.

“We’re creating this new company to pursue the development and commercialization of antiviral and orphan drugs. Presidio brings exciting HCV assets to the new company, and a highly experienced scientific team with a proven track record in antiviral drug discovery and development,” said Jon P. Stonehouse, President & Chief Executive Officer of BioCryst. “Each of our HCV antivirals works via a different targeting mechanism and each is suitable for development in combination regimens with other classes of HCV inhibitors. The diversity of our HCV portfolio reduces our clinical development risk and defines this new company as a serious competitor in the development of orally administered, safe and effective combination therapies for hepatitis C.”

“The Presidio team looks forward to joining forces with BioCryst in the pursuit of groundbreaking oral therapies for HCV and other important diseases such as hereditary angioedema,” said Richard Colonno, Ph.D., Chief Scientific Officer of Presidio. “Our initial focus will be on commencing HCV curative Phase 2a combination trials with our NS5A inhibitor PPI-668, while advancing both our nucleoside and non-nucleoside inhibitors through Phase 1 proof-of-concept trials next year.”

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