Portola Pharmaceuticals, Inc.® (PTLA) announced that it has signed a $150 million royalty agreement with HealthCare Royalty Partners (HCR). Under the terms of the agreement, Portola received $50 million at closing and may receive an additional $100 million upon U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval of AndexXaTM (andexanet alfa) in exchange for a tiered, mid-single-digit royalty based on worldwide sales of the agent. The agreement is subject to a maximum total royalty payment of 195 percent of the $150 million funded by HCR, at which time the agreement would expire.
“We are looking forward to partnering with HCR on this financing, which will provide us with capital to fund our operations in a non-dilutive manner and successfully launch this potentially life-saving agent for the benefit of tens of thousands of patients,” said Bill Lis, chief executive officer of Portola.
“We are very pleased to partner with Portola to help fund the development and commercialization of andexanet alfa. Once approved, it will be the first antidote available for the increasing number of patients admitted to the hospital with a major bleeding episode who currently have no options to reverse the effect of anticoagulation,” said Dr. Warren Cooper, chief medical officer and managing director at HCR.
Clarke Futch, managing partner and chairman of HCR’s Investment Committee added, “This transaction provides capital to Portola to further the development and commercialization of andexanet alfa, which we believe will have a significant impact on the lives of affected patients.”
Portola will use the proceeds for continued clinical and regulatory activities and for planned development and commercialization of andexanet alfa, an FDA-designated Breakthrough Therapy. Andexanet alfa is in development as a potential antidote for Factor Xa inhibitors. Portola received a Complete Response Letter from the FDA regarding its Biologics License Application for andexanet alfa in August 2016, and expects to resubmit the application in the first half of 2017. In the EU, the European Medicines Agency is reviewing the Marketing Authorization Application for andexanet alfa.