Global healthcare company Viatris has announced that it intends to create an ophthalmology franchise by acquiring Oyster Point Pharma and Famy Life Sciences.
Under the terms of a definitive agreement, Viatris has agreed to acquire Oyster Point for $11 per share in cash upfront through a tender offer. In addition, each Oyster Point stockholder will receive one non-tradeable contingent value right, representing up to an additional $2 per share contingent upon Oyster Point’s achieving certain metrics based on full year 2022 performance.
Viatris is targeting to close the acquisition of Oyster Point in Q1 2023, subject to customary closing conditions, including receipt of regulatory approval, and tender acceptance of more than 50% of Oyster Point shares.
Concurrently, the company also expects to acquire Famy Life Sciences, which has a complementary ophthalmology portfolio.
The company anticipates these acquisitions have the potential to add at least $1 billion in sales by 2028. As a result of the expected strong top-line growth, the company anticipates it will also add at least $500 million in adjusted EBITDA by 2028.
Together, the two acquisitions have an aggregate purchase price of approximately $700-$750 million which Viatris expects to fund with cash on hand.
With the combination of Viatris’ global commercial footprint, R&D and regulatory capabilities and supply chain, along with Oyster Point’s deep knowledge of the ophthalmology space from a clinical, medical, regulatory and commercial perspective—including a commercial asset, Tyrvaya, for the treatment of dry eye disease— and Famy Life Sciences’ Phase III-ready pipeline, the company believes it has the foundation to create a leading global ophthalmology franchise, accelerating efforts to address the unmet needs of patients with ophthalmic disease and the eye care professionals who treat them. The ophthalmology franchise will function as a separate division within the company and will be led by current Oyster Point CEO, Jeff Nau Ph.D., upon the closing of the transaction.
Viatris executive chairman Robert J. Coury said: “Two years into our journey as Viatris, I am extremely pleased with the strength and execution of our business. After seven straight quarters of delivering strong results, we are well on our way to completing all Phase 1 commitments and can now turn our focus to setting up for Phase 2 – 2024 and beyond. We are pleased to announce this morning our agreements to acquire two high quality businesses to form a new ophthalmology franchise within Viatris.
“Oyster Point, under the leadership of Dr. Jeff Nau, has a well-respected reputation within the ophthalmology space, and we look forward to having Jeff join the Viatris management team as leader of our ophthalmology franchise following the closing of the transactions.”
Oyster Point CEO Jeff Nau, Ph.D. said: “When we started Oyster Point Pharma in 2017, we embarked on a journey to build a leading company within the eye care space. Building on our success in the U.S. market, we are excited to join Viatris to now bring the strengths of Oyster Point to help build a leading global ophthalmology business. We believe that together we will meaningfully shape the future of eye care to address the unmet needs of patients with ophthalmic disease and the eye care professionals who take care of them.”
