Pfizer: Biohaven and Pfizer Complete Collaboration Transaction for Commercialization of Rimegepant and Zavegepant Outside United States
Biohaven Pharmaceutical Holding Company Ltd. (NYSE: BHVN) and Pfizer Inc. (NYSE: PFE), today announced that the parties have completed the collaboration transaction between the two companies. The transaction agreements, including Pfizer’s commercialization of rimegepant and zavegepant outside of the U.S., have become effective following the receipt of required regulatory approvals and the satisfaction of other customary conditions, and BHVN shares have been issued to Pfizer. Biohaven will continue to lead research and development globally and retain rights to the U.S. market.
In connection with the closing of the equity purchase and effectiveness of the strategic transaction, Pfizer made an upfront payment to Biohaven of $500 million, consisting of $150 million cash and $350 million in the purchase of Biohaven equity. At close, Pfizer will own 3% of Biohaven. Biohaven is also eligible to receive up to $740 million in future milestones. In addition to the tiered double-digit royalties owed to Biohaven on net sales outside of the U.S., Pfizer will compensate Biohaven for a pro-rata share of certain of its sales-based milestone obligations owed to Bristol-Myers Squibb Company (“BMS”), and for the related royalties on net sales outside of the U.S. owed under Biohaven’s license and funding agreements with BMS and Royalty Pharma.
“The successful closing of our collaboration agreements represent an important and exciting step in expanding the impact of rimegepant to people outside the U.S. with migraine,” said Nick Lagunowich, Global President, Pfizer Internal Medicine. “We are enthusiastic about working with the Biohaven team to bring this valuable new treatment option to the millions of people across the globe suffering from migraine.”
Rimegepant is commercialized as Nurtec® ODT in the U.S. and is the only oral CGRP (calcitonin gene-related peptide) receptor antagonist approved for both the acute and preventive treatment of migraine in adults. An application for the approval of rimegepant is currently under review by the European Medicines Agency with a decision expected in the first half of 2022. Rimegepant is already approved for the acute treatment of migraine in Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates, and for the acute and preventive treatment of migraine in Israel. Zavegepant is a third generation, high affinity, selective and structurally unique, small molecule CGRP receptor antagonist delivered in an intranasal spray which recently achieved positive Phase 3 topline data in its second pivotal clinical trial for the acute treatment of migraine in adults. Zavegepant, if approved, would be the first intranasal CGRP receptor antagonist for the acute treatment of migraine in adults. Intranasal treatments like zavegepant offer additional potential benefits including ultra-rapid speed of onset and a non-oral delivery for patients who experience signigicant nausea or vomiting.
Vlad Coric M.D., Chairman and CEO of Biohaven commented, “Together we hope to establish a world-class migraine business that can deliver on our promise of providing new treatment options for people living with this debilitating disease.” Dr. Coric added, “We are excited to collaborate with Pfizer given their global footprint and experience in the treatment of pain and in Women’s Health, which we believe may help establish rimegepant as a leading novel treatment of migraine.”