Teva to strengthen CNS portfolio with Auspex acquisition

JERUSALEM and LA JOLLA, Calif. — Teva Pharmaceutical Industries and Auspex Pharmaceuticals on Monday announced a merger agreement under which Teva will acquire Auspex in an all-cash transaction with an enterprise value of $3.2 billion. In addition to enhancing Teva’s revenue and earnings growth profile, the deal will strengthen its central nervous system franchise thanks to Auspex’s portfolio of medications for people dealing with movement disorders. 

 

"The acquisition of Auspex is a significant step in strengthening Teva’s leadership position in CNS and advances us into underserved movement disorder markets. We look forward to accelerating the development and commercialization of the Auspex portfolio based on our infrastructure, capabilities and strong commercial and R&D position in CNS. As we have outlined recently, one of our key priorities for 2015 is to support Teva’s mid- to long-term growth and create value for our shareholders with business development opportunities that are closely aligned with our core therapeutic areas. This transaction represents a first major step with regards to that commitment and we expect to continue this focus in the future,” said Erez Vigodman, president and CEO of Teva.

 

According to the companies, Auspex’s lead investigational product SD-809 (deutetrabenazine) is being developed for the potential treatment of chorea associated Huntington’s disease, tardive dyskinesia, and Tourette syndrome. 

 

Auspex’s lead candidate, SD-809, offers compelling efficacy and safety benefits to patients, as demonstrated by the impressive Phase 3 topline data in Huntington’s disease announced in December 2014,” said Michael Hayden, MD, PhD, Teva’s president of global research and development and chief scientific officer. “Teva is well positioned to realize the robust IP potential of these investigational products with Auspex’s deuterated technology which could represent a significant breakthrough for patients who often have no sustainable symptom relief from their disease.”