AMAM - Ambrx Announces Sale to Johnson & Johnson | Benzinga
SAN DIEGO, Jan. 08, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Ambrx Biopharma, Inc., or Ambrx (NASDAQ:AMAM), today announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement pursuant to which Johnson & Johnson will acquire all of the outstanding shares of Ambrx for $28.00 per share in cash, representing an approximately 105% premium to Ambrx's closing stock price on January 5, 2024, for a total equity value of approximately $2.0 billion.
"We are excited to reach this agreement with Johnson & Johnson for advancing scientific research to treat cancers with high unmet needs," said Daniel J. O'Connor, Chief Executive Officer of Ambrx. "With our deep and unique knowledge of precision engineering of protein therapeutics enabled by our proprietary technology incorporating synthetic amino acids in living cells, Ambrx has developed next-generation novel drug candidates such as site-specifically conjugated highly stable antibody drug conjugates. Through this transaction, we will continue to advance our leading prostate cancer candidate and Ambrx's promising pipeline, while delivering significant and certain cash value to our shareholders. This announcement is the culmination of two decades of scientific work, combined with the Ambrx team's talent, hard work and innovation. I look forward to what Ambrx will achieve as part of Johnson & Johnson."
Ambrx's proprietary Antibody Drug Conjugate (ADC) technology incorporates the advantages of highly specific targeting monoclonal antibodies securely linked to a potent chemotherapeutic payload to achieve targeted and efficient elimination of cancer cells without the prevalent side-effects typically associated with chemotherapy. Building on a legacy of innovation in oncology and in prostate cancer, Johnson & Johnson scientists intend to work with Ambrx researchers, accelerating the Phase 1/2 APEX-01 study (NCT04662580) of ARX517 in advanced prostate cancer, while progressing a pipeline of novel product candidates.
The transaction, which was unanimously approved by the Ambrx Board of Directors, is expected to close in the first half of 2024, subject to customary closing conditions, including approval by Ambrx shareholders and clearance under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act.
Advisors
Centerview Partners LLC is acting as lead financial advisor and Cantor Fitzgerald & Co. is acting as financial advisor to Ambrx; Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP is serving as legal counsel.
About Ambrx Biopharma, Inc.
Ambrx is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company using an expanded genetic code technology platform to discover and develop next-generation antibody drug conjugates (ADCs) and other engineered therapies to modulate the immune system. Ambrx is advancing a focused portfolio of clinical and preclinical programs designed to optimize efficacy and safety in multiple cancer indications, including ARX517, its proprietary ADC targeting the prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) and ARX788, its proprietary ADC targeting HER2. In addition, Ambrx has preclinical and clinical collaborations with multiple partners on drug candidates generated using Ambrx technology. Ambrx was spun out of The Scripps Research Institute in 2003 and has several other product candidates involving ADCs and other aspects of Ambrx's protein engineering technology. For more information, please visit www.ambrx.com. Ambrx routinely posts information that may be important to investors on its website.
Forward-Looking Statements
This communication includes certain "forward-looking statements" intended to qualify for the "safe harbor" from liability established by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended, including, but not limited to, statements regarding the proposed transaction. Forward-looking statements ...