Alkermes plc Completes Acquisition of Avadel Pharmaceuticals plc, Accelerating Entry Into Sleep Medicine Market
— Augments
— Expected to be Accretive in 2026 —
— Positions the
The transaction was completed pursuant to an
“With the close of this acquisition, Alkermes achieved an important milestone in the continued advancement of our strategy, accelerating our entry into the commercial sleep medicine market at a pivotal moment as we work to initiate the planned phase 3 program for alixorexton in narcolepsy this quarter. Avadel’s commercial and R&D portfolio, established commercial infrastructure, and talented team strengthen our organization and expand our capabilities in this important therapeutic area. Supported by our strong balance sheet, this all‑cash acquisition is expected to enhance our revenue growth profile and underscores our ongoing commitment to creating long‑term value for shareholders,” said
The transaction is expected to be accretive in 2026 and represents a compelling financial and strategic opportunity, leveraging Alkermes’ existing commercial expertise and operational infrastructure and adding new capabilities in rare disease. Avadel is a recognized innovator in the sleep medicine space, committed to addressing significant unmet needs for patients.
Since launching LUMRYZ in 2023, Avadel has successfully built and scaled a commercial organization that has driven strong demand. With an estimated population of >50,000 oxybate-eligible narcolepsy patients in
To finance the acquisition, Alkermes will use approximately
Alkermes will provide its 2026 financial expectations for the combined organization on
-
In the first quarter of 2026, Alkermes will record transaction-related costs of
$40 million . -
Alkermes will record approximately
$180 million of LUMRYZ inventory fair value step-up, which will be expensed as cost of goods sold as the inventory is sold in 2026. -
Alkermes will record approximately
$1.5 billion of intellectual property related to LUMRYZ, which will be amortized over an expected life of 13 years. Alkermes expects amortization of intangible assets to be in the range of$95 to$105 million in 2026. -
Net interest expense is expected to be in the range of
$75 to$85 million in 2026.
The acquisition was approved by Avadel shareholders at a scheme meeting of shareholders and at an extraordinary general meeting of shareholders, each held on
Payment of the Cash Consideration to the Scheme Shareholders pursuant to the Scheme is being commenced by Alkermes today,
Except as otherwise defined herein, capitalized terms used but not defined in this announcement have the same meanings as given to them in the definitive proxy statement filed by Avadel with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on
About
About LUMRYZ® (sodium oxybate) for extended-release oral suspension
LUMRYZ is an extended-release sodium oxybate medication approved by the FDA on
The LUMRYZ prescribing information includes Boxed Warnings for central nervous system (CNS) depression and abuse and misuse. LUMRYZ is a CNS depressant. Clinically significant respiratory depression and obtundation may occur in patients treated with LUMRYZ at recommended doses. Many patients who received LUMRYZ during clinical trials in narcolepsy were receiving CNS stimulants. LUMRYZ is the sodium salt of gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB). Abuse or misuse of illicit GHB, either alone or in combination with other CNS depressants, is associated with CNS adverse reactions, including seizure, respiratory depression, decreased consciousness, coma, and death. Because of the risks of CNS depression and abuse and misuse, LUMRYZ is available only through a restricted program under a Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS) called the LUMRYZ REMS. Please see full Prescribing Information for additional safety information including BOXED Warnings. Further information about the REMS is available at www.LUMRYZREMS.com or by calling 1-877-453-1029.
Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements set forth in this announcement constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended, including, but not limited to, statements concerning: Alkermes’ expectations concerning the combined organization’s future financial and operating performance, business plans or prospects, including expected transaction costs and accounting, the company’s anticipated growth profile, financial expectations and plans for LUMRYZ and expected timelines for paying down the company’s debt; and Alkermes’ expectations regarding development plans, activities and timelines for, and the potential therapeutic and commercial value of, the combined organization’s portfolio of development candidates. Alkermes cautions that forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain. The forward-looking statements are neither promises nor guarantees and they are necessarily subject to a high degree of uncertainty and risk. Actual performance and results may differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements due to various risks and uncertainties. These risks and uncertainties include, among others: the businesses of Alkermes and Avadel may not be effectively integrated and the expected benefits and value of the acquisition may not be achieved; there may be unknown or inestimable liabilities, potential litigation and transaction costs associated with the acquisition; whether any general economic, political, market and business conditions, or future exchange and interest rates, changes in tax laws, regulations, rates and policies, may have a negative impact on the combined organization following consummation of the acquisition; the completion of the acquisition could result in disruption to the business and make it more difficult to maintain business and operational relationships of Alkermes and Avadel, including the ability of Alkermes to retain highly qualified personnel; the company may not be able to pay down its debt on expected timelines or at all; clinical development activities may not be initiated or completed on expected timelines or at all; the results of development activities may not be positive, or predictive of future results from such activities, results of future development activities or real-world results; Alkermes’ products or product candidates could be shown to be ineffective or unsafe; the FDA or regulatory authorities outside the U.S. may not agree with Alkermes’ regulatory approval strategies or may make adverse decisions regarding its products; Alkermes may not be able to continue to successfully commercialize its products or support revenue growth from such products; there may be a reduction in payment rate or reimbursement for Alkermes’ products or an increase in related financial obligations to government payers; Alkermes’ products may prove difficult to manufacture, be precluded from commercialization by the proprietary rights of third parties, or have unintended side effects, adverse reactions or incidents of misuse; and those risks and uncertainties described under the heading “Risk Factors” in Alkermes’ Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended Dec. 31, 2024 and in subsequent filings made by Alkermes with the
LUMRYZ® is a registered trademark of
Statement Required by the Irish Takeover Rules
The Alkermes directors accept responsibility for the information contained in this announcement other than that relating to Avadel, its Subsidiaries and the Avadel directors and members of their immediate families, related trusts and persons connected with them. To the best of the knowledge and belief of the Alkermes directors (who have taken all reasonable care to ensure that this is the case), the information contained in this announcement for which they accept responsibility is in accordance with the facts and does not omit anything likely to affect the import of such information.
The Avadel directors accept responsibility for the information contained in this announcement other than that relating to Alkermes, its Subsidiaries and the Alkermes directors and members of their immediate families, related trusts and persons connected with them. To the best of the knowledge and belief of the Avadel directors (who have taken all reasonable care to ensure that this is the case), the information contained in this announcement for which they accept responsibility is in accordance with the facts and does not omit anything likely to affect the import of such information.
Important Notices Relating to
Publication on a Website
In accordance with Rule 26.1 of the Irish Takeover Rules, a copy of this announcement will be available on Avadel’s website at www.avadel.com and on Alkermes’ website at www.alkermes.com by no later than 12:00 noon (
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260211590882/en/
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