Novartis made a big move this week to expand its oncology portfolio, announcing plans to acquire German biotech MorphoSys in an all-cash deal valued at approximately $2.9 billion. The proposed acquisition continues Novartis’ strategy of striking deals and partnerships to enhance its drug development capabilities, especially in cancer.
Under the terms of the agreement, Novartis will pay $73 per share to purchase all outstanding ordinary shares of MorphoSys, representing a premium of 37% over the biotech’s closing price on February 3rd. The deal has been unanimously approved by MorphoSys’ board and is expected to close in the first half of 2024, pending regulatory and shareholder approval.
Driving Novartis’ interest is MorphoSys’ lead pipeline candidate pelabresib, an investigational BET inhibitor being studied for myelofibrosis. Myelofibrosis is a type of bone marrow cancer that disrupts the body’s normal production of blood cells.
Pelabresib is currently in the Phase 3 MANIFEST-2 trial in combination with Incyte’s Jakafi for first-line myelofibrosis patients. While the trial posted mixed results in November, Novartis believes the data support a regulatory submission in the second half of 2024. The pharma giant sees pelabresib as having potential to be a “practice changing” myelofibrosis treatment.
Beyond pelabresib, MorphoSys brings other early-stage oncology assets that could strengthen Novartis’ position in blood cancers. However, the crown jewel of MorphoSys’ portfolio – its approved non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma drug Monjuvi – is not included in the acquisition. Just before the Novartis deal was announced, MorphoSys sold the global rights to Monjuvi to Incyte for $1.5 billion.
Novartis has been actively hunting for new drug programs and technology platforms to replenish its pipeline as patents expire over the next decade on blockbuster brands like Cosentyx and Entresto. The patent cliff threatens over 50% of Novartis’ current sales.
In 2022, the pharma giant established a $1 billion fund to invest in startups focused on potentially transformational medicines. It has also been open to large M&A, as seen last year with the $20.7 billion purchase of gene therapy biotech The Medicines Company.
The MorphoSys deal reinforces Novartis’ commitment to growing its oncology division, which accounted for over 30% of total sales in 2023. Earlier this year, Novartis acquired the oncology biotech Calypso for $335 million upfront.
From an investor perspective, the MorphoSys acquisition provides Novartis with multiple shots on goal in blood cancers. If pelabresib hits, it could generate peak sales above $1 billion annually according to analysts. And with MorphoSys trading at multi-year lows, Novartis appears to have struck at an opportune time.
However, the mixed clinical data keeps pelabresib’s commercial prospects uncertain. And with most of MorphoSys’ value residing in the newly divested Monjuvi, it remains to be seen if Novartis overpaid. Investors reacted with caution on Tuesday, with Novartis shares falling 1% on news of the acquisition.
But with MorphoSys providing additional expertise in hematology R&D and a foothold in the German biotech scene, Novartis can justify the deal as a strategic move to reinforce oncology leadership. The pharma giant has the resources to continue its shopping spree, with around $9 billion in annual free cash flow.
If Novartis can successfully integrate MorphoSys’ personnel and drug candidates into its pipeline, while achieving cost synergies, the acquisition could pay dividends over time as new oncology drugs emerge. But executing large M&A successfully is always challenging, and investors will watch closely how Novartis leverages its new MorphoSys assets.
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