- Transaction to create Nasdaq-listed company focused on advancing Aadi Bioscience’s late-stage pipeline for genetically-defined cancers with alterations in mTOR pathway genes
- Concurrent
$155 million PIPE financing is backed by leading life science investors led byAcuta Capital Partners andKVP Capital and includingAvoro Capital Advisors ;Avoro Ventures ;Venrock Healthcare Capital Partners ;BVF Partners, L.P. ;Vivo Capital ;Alta Bioequities, L.P. ;Rock Springs Capital ;RTW Investments, LP ; Acorn Bioventures; andSerrado Capital LLC - Combined company cash at closing will fund operations into 2024
- Rolling NDA submission to the FDA for FYARROTM in advanced malignant perivascular epithelioid sarcoma (PEComa) expected to be completed in mid-2021
- FYARROTM preliminary data in patients with solid tumors harboring inactivating alterations in the mTOR pathway genes TSC1 and TSC2 to be presented at ASCO 20211
- FYARROTM tumor-agnostic registrational trial in solid tumors harboring inactivating alterations in the mTOR pathway genes TSC1 and TSC2 expected to be initiated by the end of 2021
In support of the merger, Aerpio has entered into subscription agreements to raise
The PIPE financing is expected to be consummated concurrently with the closing of the merger. Proceeds from the PIPE financing are intended to be used for commercialization of FYARRO in advanced malignant PEComa and a planned tumor-agnostic registrational trial in solid tumors harboring inactivating alterations in the mTOR pathway genes TSC1 and TSC2 expected to be initiated by the end of 2021. Aadi’s first indication, advanced malignant PEComa, is an ultra-rare sarcoma enriched in TSC1 and TSC2 alterations. Aadi has received Orphan designation, Fast Track designation and Breakthrough Therapy designation from the FDA for FYARRO for the treatment of patients with advanced malignant PEComa. Together with the cash expected from both companies at closing, the net proceeds of the PIPE financing are expected to fund the company into 2024, enabling potential approval and commercial launch in PEComa as well as completion of a registrational trial in tumors harboring TSC1 or TSC2 inactivating alterations.
Dr.
Upon closing of the transaction, the combined company will be led by Aadi’s chief executive officer,
About the Proposed Transaction
Under the terms of the merger agreement, shareholders of Aadi will receive shares of newly issued Aerpio common stock. On a pro forma basis, shareholders of Aadi will own approximately 66.8% and shareholders of Aerpio will own approximately 33.2% of the combined company upon the closing of the merger, prior to the additional PIPE financing transaction. Following the closing of the concurrent PIPE financing, Aerpio shareholders will own approximately 14.7% of the combined company. The actual allocation is subject to adjustment based on Aerpio’s cash balance at the time of closing.
The terms of the merger agreement contemplate that a non-transferable contingent value right (a “CVR”) will be distributed to Aerpio shareholders as of immediately prior to the effective time of the merger, entitling CVR holders to receive net proceeds received by Aerpio, if any, associated with Aerpio’s legacy assets. The terms and conditions of the CVRs will be pursuant to a CVR Agreement Aerpio will enter into prior to the closing of the merger (the “CVR Agreement”).
The merger agreement has been approved by the boards of directors of both companies. The transaction is expected to close in the third quarter of 2021, subject to approval by Aerpio’s shareholders, the completion of the PIPE financing, and customary closing conditions. The PIPE financing is expected to close concurrently with, and is conditioned upon, the closing of the merger.
Additional information about the transaction will be provided in a Current Report on Form 8-K that will be filed by Aerpio with the
About
About Aadi Bioscience
Aadi is a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company developing precision therapies for genetically-defined cancers. Aadi’s primary goal is to bring transformational outcomes to cancer patients with mTOR pathway driver alterations where other mTOR inhibitors have not or cannot be effectively exploited due to problems of pharmacology, effective drug delivery, safety, or effective targeting to the disease site. Aadi’s product FYARROTM (sirolimus albumin-bound nanoparticles for injectable suspension; nab-sirolimus; ABI-009) is an mTOR inhibitor bound to human albumin that has demonstrated significantly higher tumor accumulation, mTOR target suppression, and superior efficacy over other mTOR inhibitors in preclinical models.3 Aadi’s initial focus is on treating patients with alterations in TSC1 or TSC2 genes, tumor suppressors that when inactivated, may be drivers in many different cancer types. Aadi’s registration trial in advanced malignant PEComa (the AMPECT trial) of FYARRO demonstrated meaningful clinical efficacy in malignant PEComa4, a type of cancer with the highest known mutation rate of TSC1 or TSC2 genes. Based on the AMPECT trial, emerging data for FYARRO in other solid tumors with TSC1 or TSC2 mutations, and following discussions with the FDA, Aadi plans to initiate a tumor-agnostic registrational trial in cancers harboring TSC1 or TSC2 inactivating alterations by the end of 2021.
Aadi also has ongoing studies to evaluate dosing of FYARRO in combination regimens. More information is available on the Aadi website at www.aadibio.com. Aadi has submitted an abstract1 to the ASCO 2021 meeting.
No Offer or Solicitation
This communication is not intended to and shall not constitute an offer to buy or sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy or sell any securities, or a solicitation of any vote or approval, nor shall there be any sale of securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. No offering of securities shall be made, except by means of a prospectus meeting the requirements of Section 10 of the
Additional Information about the Proposed Transaction for Investors and Shareholders
This communication relates to the proposed transaction involving Aerpio and Aadi and may be deemed to be solicitation material in respect of the proposed transaction. In connection with the proposed transaction between Aerpio and Aadi, Aerpio will file a proxy statement with the
Investors and security holders may obtain free copies of the proxy statement and all other documents filed or that will be filed with the
Participants in the Solicitation
Aerpio, Aadi and their respective directors and executive officers may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from the stockholders of Aerpio in connection with the proposed transaction. Information about Aerpio’s directors and executive officers is set forth in Aerpio’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended
Forward Looking Statements
This communication contains “forward-looking statements” based upon Aerpio’s and Aadi’s current expectations. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, and include, but are not limited to, statements about the structure, timing and completion of the proposed transaction; the combined company’s listing on Nasdaq after the closing of the proposed transaction; the business of the combined company, including Aadi’s product candidates, the development therefor and the therapeutic potential thereof; the proposed PIPE and its terms; the use of proceeds from the proposed PIPE; Aerpio’s product candidates, including the opportunity for Aerpio shareholders to receive value from such assets through the proposed contingent value rights. Actual results and the timing of events may differ materially from those indicated by these forward-looking statements as a result of various important factors, including, without limitation: (i) risks associated with Aerpio’s ability to obtain the stockholder approval required to consummate the proposed transaction or to complete the PIPE financing, and the timing of the closing of the proposed transaction, including the risks that a condition to closing would not be satisfied within the expected timeframe or at all or that the closing of the proposed transaction, including the PIPE financing, will not occur (ii) the response of Aerpio’s stockholders to the proposed transaction; (iii) risks related to Aerpio’s ability to manage its operating expenses and its expenses associated with the proposed transaction pending closing; (iv) risks related to the failure or delay in obtaining required approvals from any governmental or quasi-governmental entity necessary to consummate the proposed transaction; (v) the risk that as a result of adjustments to the exchange ratio, Aerpio stockholders and Aadi stockholders could own more or less of the combined company than is currently anticipated; (vi) risks related to the market price of Aerpio’s common stock relative to the exchange ratio; (vii) unexpected costs, charges, expenditures or expenses resulting from the proposed transaction; (viii) potential adverse reactions or changes to business relationships resulting from the announcement or completion of the proposed transaction; (ix) Aerpio’s ability to retain personnel as a result of the announcement or completion of the proposed transaction; and (x) risks associated with the possible failure to realize certain anticipated benefits of the proposed transaction, including with respect to future financial and operating results and (xi) the risk that any potential payment of proceeds pursuant to the CVR Agreement may not be distributed at all or result in any value to Aerpio stockholders. Actual results and the timing of events may differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements as a result of these risks and uncertainties. These and other risks and uncertainties are more fully described in periodic filings with the
These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this press release, and Aerpio assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking statements, or to update the reasons why actual results could differ from those projected in the forward-looking statements, except as required by law. Investors should consult all the information set forth herein and should also refer to the risk factor disclosure set forth in the reports and other documents Aerpio files with the SEC available at www.sec.gov.
References:
1 ASCO 2021 Abstract: https://meetings.asco.org/abstracts-presentations/197602
2 The data have not been reviewed by the FDA
3 AACR 2019 Abstract: https://cancerres.aacrjournals.org/content/79/13_Supplement/348
4 ASCO 2020 Abstract: https://ascopubs.org/doi/abs/10.1200/JCO.2020.38.15_suppl.11516?af=R
Contacts
Investors & Media:
Media:
gmarek@aerpio.com
Or
Investors:
ikoffler@lifesciadvisors.com
njorgesen@aadibio.com
Source:
2021 GlobeNewswire, Inc., source