• 27 Nov 2024
• Admin
• News Article

Roche Inks Agreement to Acquire Clinical-Stage Biopharma Company, Poseida Therapeutics

Overview

Roche announced that it has entered into a definitive merger agreement to acquire Poseida Therapeutics, Inc. (Poseida), a public clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company pioneering donor-derived CAR-T cell therapies. Based in San Diego, California, Poseida’s R&D portfolio includes pre-clinical and clinical-stage off-the-shelf (also referred to as allogeneic) CAR-T therapies across several therapeutic areas including haematological malignancies, solid tumours, and autoimmune disease, as well as manufacturing capabilities and technology platforms.

Impact on Existing Partnership

The acquisition builds on the existing partnership between Roche and Poseida following the collaboration and licence agreement established in 2022, which focuses on developing off-the-shelf CAR-T cell therapies to address medical needs of patients with haematological malignancies.

The Collaborative Vision

The joint vision of Poseida, Roche and Genentech, a member of the Roche Group, is to deliver the next generation of off-the-shelf CAR-T cell therapies with increased potency and favourable safety at a scale that can potentially reach more patients and enable broad commercial use.

Words from the CMO: Roche

• “This exciting acquisition will allow us to drive further progress in allogeneic cell therapy while leveraging the successful existing partnership with Poseida,” said Levi Garraway, head of product development and chief medical officer at Roche. 
• “We are very encouraged by the early clinical data, and this acquisition builds on our joint progress to catalyse the development of potentially first and best-in-class cell therapies in oncology, immunology and neurology.”

Assets in the Current Collaboration:

• The lead programme, P-BCMA-ALLO1, is an allogeneic CAR-T therapy targeting B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA). 
• P-BCMA-ALLO1 has received Regenerative Medicine Advanced Therapy designation for relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma (MM) after three or more prior lines of therapies, and FDA Orphan Drug Designation for MM. 
• Early clinical data have been reported in September at the International Myeloma Society annual meeting (Poseida PR).

2nd Programme

• A second clinical programme in phase 1 is P-CD19CD20-ALLO1, an allogeneic dual CAR-T in B-cell malignancies. 
• Building on the transformative potential of the CAR-T modality beyond oncology, FDA INDs have been recently filed to investigate this programme’s potential for patients with multiple sclerosis and systemic lupus erythematosus.
• An additional allogeneic, dual CAR-T programme targeting known antigens expressed in haematologic malignancies (Poseida PR) has been initiated.

Post Judgement Closing

Upon closing of the transaction, Roche will obtain access to Poseida’s GMP manufacturing capabilities and other R&D portfolio assets, as well as their know-how and expertise, including:

• P-MUC1C-ALLO1, an allogeneic CAR-T programme currently in phase 1 in solid tumours.
• Genomic medicine pre-clinical candidates as well as related technologies.
• Current Poseida employees will join the Roche Group as part of Roche’s Pharmaceuticals Division.

From Head of Genentech Research

• “Our interest in cell therapy is directly tied to our commitment to discovering and developing pioneering medicines with substantial patient benefit,” said Aviv Regev, head of Genentech Research & Early Development. 
• “We are excited to bring together cutting-edge scientific approaches and expertise to tap into the full transformative potential of cell therapy.”

Terms of the Agreement

• Under the terms of the merger agreement, Roche will promptly commence a tender offer to acquire all of the outstanding shares of Poseida common stock at a price of US $9.00 per share in cash at closing plus a non-tradeable CVR to receive certain milestone payments of up to an aggregate of US $4.00 per share in cash, representing a total equity value of approximately US $1.0 billion at closing and representing a total deal value of up to US $1.5 billion. 
• The price payable at closing represents a premium of approximately 215% to Poseida’s closing share price on 25 November 2024. 
• The merger agreement has been unanimously approved by the boards of Roche and Poseida.

Recommendation Statement by Poseida

• Poseida will file a recommendation statement containing the unanimous recommendation of the Poseida board that Poseida’s stockholders tender their shares pursuant to the tender offer. 
• Following the completion of the tender offer, Roche will acquire all remaining shares at the same price of US$ 9.00 per share in cash through a second step merger.

Contingent Cash Payments for CVR Holders Based on Milestones

Each non-tradeable CVR will entitle its holders to receive the following contingent cash payments, conditioned upon the achievement of certain clinical development and commercial milestones, within specified time periods: 

US$ 2.00 per share in cash, upon the initiation of the first pivotal study of a P-BCMA-ALLO1 product for the treatment of any indication (by December 31, 2028); US$ 1.00 per share in cash, upon the initiation of the first pivotal study of a P-CD19CD20-ALLO1 product or of a P-BCMACD19-ALLO1 product for the treatment of an autoimmune indication (by December 31, 2034); US$ 1.00 per share in cash, upon the first commercial sale of a P-BCMA-ALLO1 product for the treatment of any indication (by December 31, 2031),

CVR Payment Uncertainty

• There can be no assurance that any payments will be made with respect to the CVR. 
• Assuming the conditions of the CVR are met, this would represent an additional cash consideration of up to approximately US$ 0.5 billion for Poseida’s stockholders.

Closing of Transaction

The transaction is expected to close in the first quarter of 2025 and is subject to customary closing conditions, including the tender of at least a majority of the outstanding shares of Poseida’s common stock and the expiration or termination of the waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976.

Advisors for the Agreement

• Citi is acting as exclusive financial advisor to Roche and Sidley Austin LLP is acting as legal counsel to Roche. 
• Centerview Partners LLC is acting as exclusive financial advisor to Poseida and Cooley LLP is acting as legal counsel to Poseida.

About Poseida Therapeutics

Poseida Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company advancing differentiated allogeneic cell therapies and genetic medicines with the capacity to cure.

About Roche

• Founded in 1896 in Basel, Switzerland, as one of the first industrial manufacturers of branded medicines, Roche has grown into the world’s largest biotechnology company and the global leader in in-vitro diagnostics.
• The company pursues scientific excellence to discover and develop medicines and diagnostics for improving and saving the lives of people around the world.

Genentech, in the United States, is a wholly owned member of the Roche Group. Roche is the majority shareholder in Chugai Pharmaceutical, Japan.