Mark Cohen, Senior Partner and Chair of the Life Science Practice Group, represents OPKO Health, Inc. in intellectual property and patent matters, and was patent counsel for OPKO Health, Inc. on patent diligence matters for the transaction.

OPKO Health, Inc. (NASDAQ:OPK) and Transition Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ:TTHI, TSX:TTH) announce the signing of a definitive agreement under which OPKO will acquire Transition Therapeutics, a clinical stage biotechnology company.

Under the terms of the agreement approved by the Boards of Directors of both companies, Transition Therapeutics security holders will receive approximately 6.4 million shares of OPKO common stock. Based on the moving average price of OPKO common stock for the five trading days preceding the signing of the agreement, the transaction is valued at approximately US$60 million, or US$1.55 per share of Transition Therapeutics common stock, based on current outstanding shares. The companies expect the transaction to close during the second half of 2016, subject to approval of Transition Therapeutics stockholders and other customary conditions. The Transition Therapeutics clinical portfolio includes:

  • TT401, a once or twice weekly oxyntomodulin for type 2 diabetes and obesity. We believe TT401 to be the most clinically advanced drug candidate among the new class of GLP1-glucagon receptor dual agonists. In a recently completed phase 2 study of 420 patients with type 2 diabetes, subjects receiving the highest dose of TT401 peptide once weekly demonstrated significantly superior weight loss compared with currently approved extended release exenatide and placebo after 12 and 24 weeks of treatment. TT401 also provided a reduction in HbA1c, a marker of sugar metabolism, similar to exenatide at weeks 12 and 24. TT401 strengthens OPKO's existing pipeline of oxyntomodulin drug candidates for the treatment of type 2 diabetes and obesity. OPKO's MOD-6031, currently in a phase 1 study, is a once weekly oxyntomodulin with a proprietary delivery system to slowly release the natural oxyntomodulin, which allows the molecule to penetrate the blood brain barrier. The potential of MOD-6031 to interact with CNS, as well as peripheral receptors, is expected to mimic the natural effect of oxyntomodulin for its effects on satiety and weight loss.
  • TT701 is a once daily oral selective androgen receptor modulator for patients with androgen deficiency. In a 12-week study of 350 male subjects, it resulted in significantly decreased fat mass and increased lean body mass and muscle strength without significantly changing prostate specific antigen levels. The selective and antagonistic properties of TT701 appear to be well suited to provide anabolic therapeutic benefits to specific patient populations, while potentially avoiding, or even reducing, prostate hypertrophy.
  • ELND005, a neuropsychiatric drug candidate. ELND005 is an orally administered small molecule that has completed phase 2 clinical studies in Alzheimer's disease and Down syndrome patients.

OPKO Health is a diversified healthcare company that seeks to establish industry-leading positions in large, rapidly growing markets. Our diagnostics business includes Bio-Reference Laboratories, the nation's third-largest clinical laboratory with a core genetic testing business and a 420-person sales force to drive growth and leverage new products, including the 4Kscore® prostate cancer test and the Claros® 1 in-office immunoassay platform. Our pharmaceutical business features RAYALDEE, an FDA-approved treatment for SHPT in stage 3-4 CKD patients with vitamin D insufficiency, and VARUBI™ for chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (oral formulation launched by partner Tesaro and IV formulation PDUFA date: January 2017). Our biologics business includes hGH-CTP, a once-weekly human growth hormone injection (in phase 3 and partnered with Pfizer), a long-acting Factor VIIa drug for hemophilia (in phase 2a) and a long-acting oxyntomodulin for diabetes and obesity (in phase 1). We also have production and distribution assets worldwide, multiple strategic investments and an active business development strategy.

More information is available at www.opko.com