Pharmacosmos Group has successfully completed its acquisition of G1 Therapeutics in a transaction valued at approximately $405 million, the companies announced on September 18, 2024. The deal, which closed following a tender offer that expired on September 17, saw Pharmacosmos pay $7.15 per share in cash for all outstanding shares of G1 Therapeutics, representing a 68% premium to G1's closing share price on August 6, 2024.
The acquisition brings G1's flagship product COSELA (trilaciclib) into Pharmacosmos' portfolio, strengthening the Danish company's position in hematology and supportive cancer care. COSELA is the first and only FDA-approved therapy to decrease the incidence of chemotherapy-induced myelosuppression in adult patients with extensive-stage small cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC).
Strategic Rationale and Market Expansion
The business combination aims to maximize patient access to COSELA by leveraging Pharmacosmos' established expertise in hematology and supportive care products. Pharmacosmos, known for its treatments for iron deficiency and iron deficiency anemia, sees the acquisition as transformative for its commercial portfolio.
"We are excited to announce the completion of Pharmacosmos' acquisition of G1. This acquisition fits perfectly with our strategy and positions our company for the next phase of growth," said Tobias S. Christensen, CEO and President of Pharmacosmos A/S. "We are particularly thrilled to expand our product portfolio with Cosela, an innovative first-in-class product that is making a real difference for patients with small cell lung cancer."
Pharmacosmos plans to expand COSELA's availability beyond its current markets. While the drug is currently approved in the United States and China, Pharmacosmos intends to pursue registration and commercialization in additional territories, including the United Kingdom and European Union.
Addressing an Unmet Medical Need
COSELA addresses a significant challenge in cancer treatment by providing proactive multilineage myeloprotection to patients receiving chemotherapy. Myelosuppression is a common and serious side effect of chemotherapy that can lead to infections, bleeding, and fatigue, often requiring dose reductions or treatment delays that may compromise cancer care.
"Since our founding in 2008, G1 has been committed to improving the lives of patients living with cancer; this effort culminated in the approval and launch of COSELA (trilaciclib), the first and only therapy that proactively delivers multilineage myeloprotection to patients with extensive-stage small cell lung cancer being treated with chemotherapy," said Jack Bailey, Chief Executive Officer at G1 Therapeutics.
The drug works by temporarily arresting hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells in the G1 phase of the cell cycle during chemotherapy exposure, protecting them from damage and allowing for faster recovery of blood cell counts after treatment.
Transaction Details
The tender offer, which commenced on August 20, 2024, resulted in approximately 74.64% of G1's outstanding shares being validly tendered. Following the completion of the tender offer, Genesis Merger Sub, Inc., an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Pharmacosmos A/S, merged with and into G1 Therapeutics, with G1 continuing as the surviving corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary of Pharmacosmos Therapeutics Inc.
As a result of the transaction, G1 Therapeutics' shares have ceased trading on NASDAQ and will be delisted and deregistered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
Complementary Product Portfolios
The acquisition creates synergies between Pharmacosmos' existing product line and COSELA. Pharmacosmos' lead product, Monoferric (ferric derisomaltose), is indicated for the treatment of iron deficiency anemia in adult patients who have intolerance to oral iron or have had unsatisfactory response to oral iron, as well as those with non-hemodialysis dependent chronic kidney disease.
The combination of COSELA with Monoferric provides Pharmacosmos with complementary therapies addressing different aspects of supportive care in cancer and chronic disease management. Both products aim to improve quality of life and treatment outcomes for patients dealing with serious medical conditions.
Future Outlook
With the acquisition now complete, Pharmacosmos will focus on integrating G1's commercial, sales, and medical platforms into its operations. The combined company aims to optimize commercial reach to oncologists and expand COSELA's availability among patients living with ES-SCLC.
"The closing of this transaction is an exciting moment for everyone working in G1 and Pharmacosmos, and the patients we seek to treat, as the combined team moves forward with COSELA to meet the needs of even more cancer patients," added Bailey.
Industry analysts will be watching closely to see how Pharmacosmos leverages its global presence to drive COSELA's growth, particularly as the company pursues regulatory approvals in new markets. The acquisition represents a significant step in Pharmacosmos' strategy to expand beyond its core iron deficiency franchise into broader supportive care for cancer patients.
About COSELA (trilaciclib)
COSELA was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on February 12, 2021. It is indicated to decrease the incidence of chemotherapy-induced myelosuppression in adult patients when administered prior to a platinum/etoposide-containing regimen or topotecan-containing regimen for extensive-stage small cell lung cancer.
The most common adverse reactions (>10%) reported in clinical trials were fatigue, hypocalcemia, hypokalemia, hypophosphatemia, aspartate aminotransferase increased, headache, and pneumonia. The drug carries warnings and precautions for injection-site reactions, acute drug hypersensitivity reactions, interstitial lung disease, and embryo-fetal toxicity.
