AstraZeneca to take over Fusion Therapeutics Inc

Fusion Pharmaceuticals Inc‘s acquisition for US$2bn upfront marks a major step forward in AstraZeneca delivering on its ambition to transform cancer treatment and outcomes for patients by replacing traditional regimens like chemotherapy and radiotherapy with more targeted treatments. Fusion’s pipeline of radiopharmaceutical conjugates includes the Phase II program, FPI-2265 – a potential new treatment for patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC). FPI-2265, which was licenced from the University Heidelberg and Euratom in February, targets prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA), a protein that is highly expressed in mCRPC. Actinium-225 emits alpha particles and holds the promise of being a next-generation radioisotope in cancer treatment. By delivering a greater radiation dose over a shorter distance, alpha particles such as actinium-225 have the potential for more potent cancer cell killing, and targeted delivery, thereby minimising damage to surrounding healthy tissue.

Under the terms of the definitive agreement, AstraZeneca, through a subsidiary, will acquire all of Fusion’s outstanding shares pursuant to a plan of arrangement for a price of $21.00 per share in cash at closing plus a non-transferable contingent value right (CVR) of $3.00 per share in cash payable upon the achievement of a specified regulatory milestone.

The upfront cash portion of the consideration represents a transaction value of approximately $2 billion, a 97% premium to Fusion’s closing market price of $10.64 on March 18, 2024, and an 85% premium to the 30-day volume-weighted average price (VWAP) of $11.37 before this announcement. Combined, the upfront and maximum potential contingent value payments represent, if achieved, a transaction value of approximately $2.4 billion, a 126% premium to Fusion’s closing market price on March 18, 2024, and a 111% premium to the 30-day VWAP. As part of the transaction, AstraZeneca will acquire the cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments on Fusion’s balance sheet, which totaled $234 million as of December 31, 2023.

The proposed acquisition of Fusion is to be completed by way of a statutory plan of arrangement under the Canada Business Corporations Act and subject to customary closing conditions, including approval of (i) 66?% of the votes cast by Fusion shareholders and (ii) a simple majority of the votes cast by Fusion shareholders (excluding certain persons required to be excluded in accordance with Multilateral Instrument 61-101 of the Canadian Securities Administrators), in each case, at a special meeting of Fusion shareholders. The transaction is expected to close in the second quarter of 2024, subject to customary closing conditions, including the approval of Fusion shareholders and regulatory clearances