Gilead Gains Forty Sevens Investigational Immuno-Oncology Therapy in Multiple Clinical Studies for Diseases Including Myelodysplastic Syndrome, Acute Myeloid Leukemia and Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma

Transaction Supports Gileads Strategic Focus in Oncology and Gives Access to Potential New First-in-Class Program and Innovative Pipeline

FOSTER CITY, Calif.&MENLO PARK, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Gilead Sciences, Inc.(Nasdaq: GILD) andForty Seven, Inc.(Nasdaq: FTSV) announced today that the companies have entered into a definitive agreement pursuant to which Gilead will acquire Forty Seven for$95.50per share in cash. The transaction, which values Forty Seven at approximately$4.9 billion, was unanimously approved by both the Gilead and Forty Seven Boards of Directors and is anticipated to close during the second quarter of 2020, subject to regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions.

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Through the addition of Forty Sevens investigational lead product candidate, magrolimab, the acquisition will strengthen Gileads immuno-oncology research and development portfolio. Magrolimab is a monoclonal antibody in clinical development for the treatment of several cancers for which new, transformative medicines are urgently needed, including myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). The investigational therapy targets CD47, a do not eat me signal that allows cancer cells to avoid destruction thereby permitting the patients own innate immune system to engulf and eradicate those cancer cells. Forty Seven presented promising results of a Phase 1b study of magrolimab in patients with MDS and AML at theAmerican Society of Hematologymeeting inDecember 2019. Magrolimab has the potential to be a first-in-class therapy.

This agreement builds on Gileads presence in immuno-oncology and adds significant potential to our clinical pipeline, said Daniel ODay, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer ofGilead Sciences. Magrolimab complements our existing work in hematology, adding a non-cell therapy program that complements Kites pipeline of cell therapies for hematological cancers. With a profile that lends itself to combination therapies, magrolimab could potentially have transformative benefits for a range of tumor types. We are looking forward to working with the highly experienced team at Forty Seven to help patients with some of the most challenging forms of cancer.

This is an exciting day for patients who may one day benefit from future anti-CD47 therapies and other immuno-oncology treatments based on our research and an exciting time for Forty Seven as this allows us to achieve our vision of helping patients defeat their cancer, commentedMark McCamish, MD, PhD, President and Chief Executive Officer of Forty Seven. We are pleased to join Gilead and believe that by combining our scientific expertise with Gileads strength in developing treatments that modify the immune system, we will be able to more rapidly advance our therapies.

Magrolimab

Forty Seven is initially studying magrolimab in patients with MDS and AML. Additional studies are ongoing in non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) and solid tumors. Magrolimab has been granted Fast Track designation by theU.S. Food and Drug Administration(FDA) for the treatment of MDS and AML, and for the treatment of relapsed or refractory DLBCL and follicular lymphoma, two forms of B-cell NHL. Magrolimab has also been granted Orphan Drug designation by the FDA for the treatment of MDS and AML and by theEuropean Medicines Agencyfor the treatment of AML.

More than 400 patients have received the compound to date through clinical trials.

Ongoing Phase 1b Clinical Trial

InDecember 2019, Forty Seven presented promising results of a Phase 1b trial evaluating magrolimab in combination with azacitidine in untreated patients with higher risk MDS and untreated patients with AML, who are ineligible for induction chemotherapy. This has led to the initiation of a potential registrational cohort in MDS. All patients received a 1 mg/kg priming dose of magrolimab, coupled with intrapatient dose escalation to mitigate on-target anemia. Patients were then treated with full doses of azacitidine and magrolimab maintenance doses of 30 mg/kg weekly.

As of the data cutoff ofNovember 18, 2019, 62 patients had been treated with the combination in the Phase 1b portion of the trial, including 35 patients with MDS and 27 patients with AML.

Clinical Activity Data

As of the data cutoff, 46 patients were evaluable for response assessment, including 24 patients with untreated higher-risk MDS and 22 patients with untreated AML, who were ineligible for induction chemotherapy.

Safety Data

As of the data cutoff, the combination of magrolimab and azacitidine was well-tolerated, with no evidence of increased toxicities compared to azacitidine alone. Adverse events (AEs) were consistent with prior clinical experience. No deaths were observed in the first 60 days on combination treatment and only one patient out of 62 (1.6 percent) discontinued treatment due to a treatment-related AE.

Additional Programs

Beyond magrolimab, Forty Seven is preparing to advance two additional investigational compounds into clinical testing. FSI-174, an anti-cKIT antibody, is being developed in combination with magrolimab as a novel, all-antibody conditioning regimen to address the limitations of current stem cell transplantation conditioning regimens. FSI-189, an anti-SIRP antibody, is being developed for the treatment of cancer, as well as certain non-oncology settings, including transplantation conditioning.

Terms of the Transaction

Under the terms of the merger agreement, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Gilead will promptly commence a tender offer to acquire all of the outstanding shares of Forty Sevens common stock at a price of$95.50per share in cash. Following successful completion of the tender offer, Gilead will acquire all remaining shares not tendered in the offer through a second step merger at the same price as in the tender offer.

Consummation of the tender offer is subject to a minimum tender of at least a majority of outstanding Forty Seven shares plus Forty Seven shares underlying vested options, the expiration or termination of the waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act and other customary conditions.

Gilead plans to pay all cash consideration for the transaction. The tender offer is not subject to a financing condition.

Citi and J.P. Morgan are acting as joint financial advisors to Gilead.Centerview Partners LLCis acting as the exclusive financial advisor to Forty Seven.Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLPis serving as legal counsel toGileadandCooley LLPis serving as legal counsel to Forty Seven.

Conference Call

At8:00 a.m. Eastern Timetoday, Gilead's management will host a conference call and a simultaneous webcast to discuss the transaction. A live webcast of the call can be accessed at Gileads Investors page athttp://investors.gilead.com. Please connect to the website at least 15 minutes prior to the start of the call to allow adequate time for any software download that may be required. Alternatively, please call 877-359-9508 (U.S.) or 224-357-2393 (international) and dial the conference ID 8479332 to access the call.

Telephone replay will be available approximately two hours after the call through8:30 a.m. Eastern Time,March 4, 2020. To access the replay, please call 855-859-2056 (U.S.) or 404-537-3406 (international) and dial the conference ID 8479332. The webcast will be archived onwww.gilead.comfor one year.

AboutGilead Sciences

Gilead Sciences, Inc.is a research-based biopharmaceutical company that discovers, develops and commercializes innovative medicines in areas of unmet medical need. The company strives to transform and simplify care for people with life-threatening illnesses around the world. Gilead has operations in more than 35 countries worldwide, with headquarters inFoster City, California. For more information onGilead Sciences, please visit the companys website atwww.gilead.com.

About Forty Seven

Forty Seven, Inc.is a clinical-stage immuno-oncology company that is developing therapies targeting cancer immune evasion pathways and specific cell targeting approaches based on technology licensed fromStanford University. Forty Sevens lead program, magrolimab, is a monoclonal antibody against the CD47 receptor, a dont eat me signal that cancer cells commandeer to avoid being ingested by macrophages. This antibody is currently being evaluated in multiple clinical studies in patients with myelodysplastic syndrome, acute myeloid leukemia, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, and solid tumors. For more information on Forty Seven, please visit the companys website atwww.fortyseveninc.com.

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Gilead to Acquire Forty Seven for $4.9 Billion - PharmiWeb.com