Coherus BioSciences Announces Divestiture of YUSIMRY (adalimumab-aqvh) in a $40 Million Upfront All Cash Transaction
On June 27, 2024, Coherus BioSciences (Nasdaq: CHRS) announced the divestiture of YUSIMRY (adalimumab-aqvh) to Hong Kong King-Friend Industrial Co. (HKF) for $40 million in an all-cash deal. The transaction, completed on June 26, 2024, aligns with Coherus' strategic focus on oncology.
Meitheal Pharmaceuticals, a wholly owned subsidiary of HKF, will continue the commercialization of YUSIMRY in the U.S. Coherus plans to use the proceeds to strengthen its cash position and further its oncology initiatives.
Coherus' oncology portfolio includes LOQTORZI (toripalimab-tpzi), an FDA-approved PD-1 inhibitor, and the UDENYCA (pegfilgrastim-cbqv) franchise with three FDA-approved presentations, along with a clinical-stage immuno-oncology portfolio.
- Divestiture brings $40 million in cash, enhancing Coherus' liquidity.
- Strategic shift to focus solely on oncology could streamline operations and potentially increase future profitability.
- Proceeds support Coherus' goal of becoming a sustainable and growing oncology company.
- None.
Insights
The divestiture of YUSIMRY to Hong Kong King-Friend Industrial Co. Ltd. (HKF) for
From a financial perspective, the key takeaway is that Coherus is likely redirecting its capital and resources towards high-growth areas within its oncology portfolio. With established products like LOQTORZI® and UDENYCA® and a robust pipeline of clinical-stage assets, the company is positioning itself to capture more market share in the oncology space, which is significantly larger and potentially more profitable than the biosimilar market from which it is divesting. This decision appears strategically sound, as focusing on oncology may lead to enhanced shareholder value in the long term.
However, investors should keep an eye on how effectively Coherus will use the
The sale of YUSIMRY (adalimumab-aqvh) to HKF signifies Coherus BioSciences’ strategic pivot towards the oncology market. This move could be particularly beneficial given the high growth potential and competitive dynamics in oncology. The biosimilar market, particularly for adalimumab, is crowded, with multiple players and pricing pressures, making it a challenging environment for sustained revenue growth.
By divesting YUSIMRY, Coherus is likely seeking to concentrate its efforts in areas where it can establish a more dominant market position. The oncology sector offers higher margins and significant growth prospects, particularly for innovative therapies that address unmet medical needs. Additionally, Coherus’ existing oncology assets, including FDA-approved products and a promising pipeline, provide a solid foundation for scaling its operations in this sector.
Retail investors should be aware of the competitive landscape in oncology, which, while lucrative, also involves high R&D costs and regulatory hurdles. Coherus’ ability to navigate these challenges successfully will be key to its future performance. The transaction is a strategic pivot that holds promise but requires careful execution.
– Transaction aligns with Coherus’ strategic focus on oncology –
REDWOOD CITY, Calif., June 27, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Coherus BioSciences, Inc. (Coherus, Nasdaq: CHRS) today announced it agreed to divest YUSIMRY (adalimumab-aqvh) to Hong Kong King-Friend Industrial Co. Ltd. (HKF) for up-front all-cash consideration of
“With the divesture of YUSIMRY, Coherus reinforces its strategic focus on oncology,” said Denny Lanfear, Coherus Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. “The proceeds from the sale of YUSIMRY will bolster our cash position, advance our efforts to become a sustainable and growing oncology company and efficiently allocate our resources for maximum value creation.”
Coherus’ oncology assets include LOQTORZI® (toripalimab-tpzi), an FDA-approved, next-generation PD-1 inhibitor, the UDENYCA® (pegfilgrastim-cbqv) franchise, with three FDA-approved presentations; and an innovative clinical-stage, immuno-oncology portfolio focused on the tumor microenvironment.
Latham & Watkins LLP provided Coherus with legal counsel regarding the transaction.
About Coherus BioSciences
Coherus is a commercial-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the research, development and commercialization of innovative immunotherapies to treat cancer. Coherus is developing an innovative immuno-oncology pipeline that is expected to be synergistic with its proven commercial capabilities in oncology.
Coherus’ immuno-oncology pipeline includes multiple antibody immunotherapy candidates focused on enhancing the innate and adaptive immune responses to enable a robust antitumor immunologic response and enhance outcomes for patients with cancer. Casdozokitug is a novel IL-27 antagonistic antibody currently being evaluated in two ongoing clinical studies: a Phase 1/2 study in advanced solid tumors and a Phase 2 study in hepatocellular carcinoma. CHS-114 is a highly selective, competitively positioned, cytolytic anti-CCR8 antibody currently in a Phase 1 study in patients with advanced solid tumors. CHS-1000 is a preclinical candidate targeting immune-suppressive mechanisms via the novel pathway ILT4.
Coherus markets LOQTORZI® (toripalimab-tpzi), a novel next-generation PD-1 inhibitor, and UDENYCA® (pegfilgrastim-cbqv), a biosimilar of Neulasta.
Neulasta® is a registered trademark of Amgen, Inc.
Forward-Looking Statements
Except for the historical information contained herein, the matters set forth in this press release are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including, but not limited to, statements regarding Coherus’ ability to identify synergies between its I-O pipeline and its commercial operations; Coherus’ expectations for the use of the proceeds from the sale of YUSIMRY and Coherus’ statements about its ability to create value in the future.
Such forward-looking statements involve substantial risks and uncertainties that could cause Coherus’ actual results, performance or achievements to differ significantly from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, among others, the risks and uncertainties inherent in the clinical drug development process; risks related to Coherus’ existing and potential collaboration partners; risks of Coherus’ competitive position; the risks and uncertainties of the regulatory approval process, including the speed of regulatory review and the timing of Coherus’ regulatory filings; the risk of FDA review issues; the risks of competition; the risk that Coherus is unable to complete commercial transactions and other matters that could affect the availability or commercial potential of Coherus’ products and product candidates; and the risks and uncertainties of possible litigation. All forward-looking statements contained in this press release speak only as of the date of this press release. Coherus undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements. For a further description of the significant risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ from those expressed in these forward-looking statements, as well as risks relating to Coherus’ business in general, see Coherus’ quarterly filing on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2024 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 9, 2024, including the section therein captioned “Risk Factors” and in other documents Coherus files with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
UDENYCA® and LOQTORZI®, whether or not appearing in large print or with the trademark symbol, are trademarks of Coherus, its affiliates, related companies or its licensors or joint venture partners unless otherwise noted. Trademarks and trade names of other companies appearing in this press release are, to the knowledge of Coherus, the property of their respective owners.
Coherus BioSciences Contact Information:
For investors:
Jami Taylor, MBA, IRC
Head of Investor Relations
IR@coherus.com
For media:
Jodi Sievers
VP, Corporate Communications
media@coherus.com
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