Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. and Ignyta, Inc., a precision oncology biotechnology company, announced the acquisition by Ignyta of the worldwide rights and assets relating to four targeted oncology development programs in exchange for 1.5 million shares (6%) of Ignyta's common stock. Concurrently, Ignyta has entered into stock purchase agreements with Teva, and selected additional healthcare investors, whereby Teva will purchase a further 1.5 million shares of common Ignyta stock at a price of $10 per share in a registered direct offering. The other investors will purchase an additional 2.7 million shares at $10 per share, valuing the total offering at approximately $41.6 million.

Under the terms of the asset purchase agreement with Teva, Ignyta is acquiring all of Teva's assets and worldwide rights relating to four oncology development programs in exchange for 1.5 million shares of Ignyta's common stock. Teva has agreed not to sell or otherwise transfer any of these shares until March 17, 2016, and Ignyta is required to register the resale of these shares with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) prior to such date. The development programs Ignyta purchased from Teva include: CEP-32496, which Ignyta has renamed RXDX-105, a potent small molecule inhibitor of BRAF, EGFR and RET that is currently in a Phase I/II dose escalation clinical trial; CEP-40783, which Ignyta has renamed RXDX-106, a potent, highly selective, pseudo-irreversible inhibitor of AXL and cMET that is in late preclinical development; CEP-40125, which Ignyta has renamed RXDX-107, a nanoformulation of a modified bendamustine with potential activity in solid tumors that is in late preclinical development; and TEV-44229, which Ignyta has renamed RXDX-108, a potent, selective inhibitor of the atypical kinase PKCiota that is in preclinical studies. Ignyta has also acquired next generation PKCiota inhibitors in addition to the lead compound. Ignyta also assumed all of Teva's ongoing obligations under certain contracts relating to the purchased programs, including the agreements under which Teva in-licensed rights to the assets.

Teva has agreed to purchase 1.5 million shares of Ignyta common stock for a purchase price of $10 per share, resulting in gross proceeds to Ignyta of $15 million. Ignyta has also entered into stock purchase agreements with several additional investors that will purchase an aggregate of 2.7 million additional shares of Ignyta common stock. The offering is expected to result in aggregate gross proceeds to Ignyta of approximately $41.6 million. The offering closed concurrently with the asset purchase.

Source: Teva Pharmaceutical Industries