Acquisitions

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2020

Business Combinations [Abstract]

Acquisitions

BIIB118 Acquisition

In March 2020 we acquired BIIB118 (formerly known as PF-05251749), a novel CNS-penetrant small molecule inhibitor of casein kinase 1, for the potential treatment of patients with behavioral and neurological symptoms across various psychiatric and neurological diseases from Pfizer Inc. (Pfizer). We plan to develop the Phase 1 asset for the potential treatment of sundowning in AD and irregular sleep wake rhythm disorder in Parkinson’s disease.

In connection with this acquisition, we made an upfront payment of $75.0 million to Pfizer, which was accounted for as an asset acquisition and recorded as acquired in-process research and development (IPR&D) in our condensed consolidated statements of income as BIIB118 has not yet reached technological feasibility. We may also pay Pfizer up to $635.0 million in potential additional development and commercialization milestone payments, as well as tiered royalties in the high single digits to sub-teens.

Acquisition of Nightstar Therapeutics plc

In June 2019 we completed our acquisition of all of the outstanding shares of Nightstar Therapeutics plc (NST), a clinical-stage gene therapy company focused on adeno-associated virus (AAV) treatments for inherited retinal disorders. As a result of this acquisition, we added two mid- to late-stage clinical assets, as well as preclinical programs, in ophthalmology. These assets include BIIB111 (timrepigene emparvovec), which is in Phase 3 development for the potential treatment of choroideremia, a rare, degenerative, X-linked inherited retinal disorder that leads to blindness and currently has no approved treatments, and BIIB112 (RPGR gene therapy), which is in Phase 2/3 development for the potential treatment of X-linked retinitis pigmentosa, which is a rare inherited retinal disease with no currently approved treatments.

Under the terms of this acquisition, we paid NST shareholders $25.50 in cash for each issued and outstanding NST share, which totaled $847.6 million. In addition, we paid $4.6 million in cash for equity compensation, which is attributable to pre-combination services and was reflected as a component of the total purchase price paid. The fair value of equity compensation attributable to the post-combination service period was $26.2 million, of which $18.4 million was recognized as a charge to selling, general and administrative expense with the remaining $7.8 million as a charge to research and development expense in our condensed consolidated statements of income. These amounts were associated with the accelerated vesting of stock options previously granted to NST employees and were fully paid in cash as of June 30, 2019. We funded this acquisition through available cash and accounted for it as an acquisition of a business. We finalized purchase accounting for this acquisition in the fourth quarter of 2019.

For additional information on our acquisition of NST, please read Note 2, Acquisitions, to our consolidated financial statements included in our 2019 Form 10-K.