BOSTON and CAMBRIDGE, Mass., June 06, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Paratek Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: PRTK), a commercial-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of novel therapies for life-threatening diseases and other public health threats, today announced it has entered into a definitive agreement to be acquired by Gurnet Point Capital and Novo Holdings A/S in a transaction valued at approximately $462 million, including the assumption of debt and assuming full payment of a Contingent Value Right. Debt financing of $175 million for this transaction will be provided by funds managed by Oaktree Capital Management, L.P.
Under the terms of the merger agreement, Gurnet Point, a leading healthcare investment firm, and Novo Holdings, a holding and investment company responsible for managing the assets and wealth of the Novo Nordisk Foundation, will acquire all outstanding shares of Paratek for $2.15 per share in cash, plus a CVR of $0.85 per share payable upon the achievement of $320 million in U.S. NUZYRA net sales (excluding certain permitted deductions, payments under Paratek’s contract with ASPR-BARDA, certain government payments and certain royalty revenue) in any calendar year ending on or prior to December 31, 2026. The upfront payment at closing represents a premium of 41% over the closing price of Paratek’s common stock as of May 31, 2023, which was the last full trading day prior to market speculation regarding a potential sale of the company.
“This transaction will deliver immediate value to our shareholders at a substantial premium while allowing them to also benefit from the future value created by NUZYRA through the CVR,” said Evan Loh, M.D., Chief Executive Officer at Paratek. “Today’s announcement is a testament to all we’ve accomplished at Paratek over the past several years. Both our Board of Directors and our management team are proud of Paratek’s accomplishments with NUZYRA and look forward to Gurnet Point and Novo Holdings continuing to deliver upon our goal of providing life-saving, transformative therapies to patients.”
“We see an attractive opportunity to invest in and accelerate the commercialization of NUZYRA and to build a portfolio of additional value-creating assets to address significant unmet medical needs,” said Stacey Seltzer, Partner at Gurnet Point. “Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a critical public health threat that claims the lives of more than 1.2 million people globally per year. We’re excited to collaborate with like-minded investors who share our aim of providing the capital and resources required to advance the commercialization of NUZYRA and support the development of additional therapies that can improve patient outcomes.”
“With NUZYRA, Paratek has demonstrated its ability to successfully develop and commercialize novel anti-infective therapies for difficult-to-treat infections. We are thrilled to partner with a leading healthcare investor to build upon Paratek’s notable track record, support the continued growth of NUZYRA, and support the expansion of their product portfolio,” said Aleks Engel, Partner at Novo Holdings. “With this investment, we expand our commitment to tackling antimicrobial resistance, from supporting novel early-stage development with our REPAIR Impact Fund, late-stage development with our AMR Action Fund investment, and now commercialization with Paratek.”
Aman Kumar, Co-Portfolio Manager of Life Sciences Lending at Oaktree added, “We are excited to partner with Gurnet Point again, and, alongside Novo Holdings, support the acquisition of Paratek at an exciting stage in the company’s development. Between its current indications and potential future label expansion opportunities, we believe NUZYRA will continue to fill an important unmet medical need, and we look forward to working with the company’s leadership team in their mission to help counter AMR.”
The transaction, which the Paratek Board of Directors has unanimously approved, is expected to close in the third quarter of 2023, subject to customary closing conditions, including approval by Paratek shareholders and receipt of regulatory approvals. Following completion, Paratek will become a private company and will no longer be subject to the reporting requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, nor be traded on Nasdaq Global Market.
Advisors
Moelis & Company LLC acted as the exclusive financial advisor to Paratek Pharmaceuticals, and Ropes & Gray LLP is serving as legal advisor. Lazard acted as the exclusive financial advisor to Gurnet Point Capital, and Latham & Watkins LLP is serving as legal advisor. Goodwin Procter LLP is serving as legal advisor to Novo Holdings A/S. Sullivan & Cromwell LLP served as legal counsel to Oaktree.
About Paratek Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Paratek Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is a commercial-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of novel therapies for life-threatening diseases and other public health threats.
The company’s lead commercial product, NUZYRA® (omadacycline), is a once-daily oral and intravenous antibiotic available in the United States for the treatment of adults with community-acquired bacterial pneumonia (CABP) and acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections (ABSSSI). Paratek has a collaboration agreement with Zai Lab for the development and commercialization of omadacycline in the greater China region and retains all remaining global rights.
Paratek is also conducting a Phase 2b study with NUZYRA in a rare disease, nontuberculous mycobacterial (NTM) pulmonary disease, caused by Mycobacterium abscessus complex. Paratek estimates this opportunity represents a potential $1 billion addressable market in the United States.
Paratek exclusively licensed U.S. rights and rights to the greater China territory for SEYSARA® (sarecycline), a once-daily oral therapy for the treatment of moderate to severe acne vulgaris, to Almirall, LLC. Paratek retains the development and commercialization rights for sarecycline in the rest of the world.
In 2019, Paratek was awarded a contract from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), now valued at up to $304 million, to support the development and U.S.-based manufacturing of NUZYRA for pulmonary anthrax.
For more information, visit www.ParatekPharma.com or follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter.
About Gurnet Point Capital
Gurnet Point Capital is a leading healthcare fund that invests in de-risked life sciences companies. Gurnet Point primarily focuses on businesses that have high growth potential in the late product development and commercialization stages of their evolution. These companies become partners not just because of their capacity to generate economic value, but also because of their potential to deliver social impact. Gurnet Point’s team of highly experienced industry executives work closely with its portfolio companies, with an active approach driving operational transformation and outsized returns. www.gurnetpointcapital.com.
About Novo Holdings A/S
Novo Holdings is a holding and investment company that is responsible for managing the assets and the wealth of the Novo Nordisk Foundation. The purpose of Novo Holdings is to improve people’s health and the sustainability of society and the planet by generating attractive long-term returns on the assets of the Novo Nordisk Foundation.
Wholly owned by the Novo Nordisk Foundation, Novo Holdings is the controlling shareholder of Novo Nordisk A/S and Novozymes A/S and manages an investment portfolio, with a long-term return perspective. In addition to managing a broad portfolio of equities, bonds, real estate, infrastructure and private equity assets, Novo Holdings is a world-leading life sciences investor. Through its Seeds, Venture, Growth, and Principal Investments teams, Novo Holdings invests in life science companies at all stages of development.
As of year-end 2022, Novo Holdings had total assets of EUR 108 billion. www.novoholdings.dk
About Oaktree
Oaktree is a leader among global investment managers specializing in alternative investments, with $172 billion in assets under management as of March 31, 2023. The firm emphasizes an opportunistic, value-oriented and risk-controlled approach to investments in credit, private equity, real assets and listed equities. The firm has over 1,100 employees and offices in 20 cities worldwide. For additional information, please visit Oaktree’s website at http://www.oaktreecapital.com/
