Copenhagen, Denmark and Redwood City, Calif., USA, February 21,
2008 - Genmab A/S (OMX: GEN) and PDL BioPharma, Inc. (Nasdaq:
PDLI) announced today that they have entered into an agreement under which
Genmab would acquire PDL's antibody manufacturing facility located in
Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, USA for USD 240 million to be paid in cash. The
transaction also includes land, equipment and access to a leased space
housing a development lab.
Genmab expects the Minnesota facility, which has a production capacity of
22,000 liters, will be sufficient to provide a sustainable source of both
clinical and commercial scale material for its pipeline. The facility
features two 1,000 liter and two 10,000 liter bioreactors, which support
the simultaneous manufacture of multiple antibody products and will enable
Genmab to transition three antibodies from research to manufacturing per
year.
"Over the past few years Genmab has been preparing for the market
launch of our late stage antibodies and we continue to build a broad
pipeline of antibody products, which currently includes 10 products in
clinical development. Consequently, the need to secure significant
manufacturing capacity has become an increasing priority," stated Lisa
N. Drakeman, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer of Genmab. "We believe
that the new PDL manufacturing facility, with its complete antibody process
development platform, represents our best option to secure manufacturing
capacity, allowing Genmab to produce antibodies more efficiently and cost
effectively while adding key manufacturing expertise to our capabilities we
continue to build for a commercial future."
"We are pleased to enter into this agreement with Genmab, which we
believe is the optimal transaction to fully realize the value of our
biologics manufacturing facility. Importantly, it also represents another
step in delivering on our commitment to maximize the value of PDL's
assets for our stockholders, following on the recent sale of our commercial
assets," said L. Patrick Gage, Ph.D., interim Chief Executive Officer
of PDL.
Genmab plans to retain the approximately 170 employees currently working at
the manufacturing facility and does not foresee reducing either the PDL
BioPharma or Genmab headcount following the acquisition. In connection with
this transaction, Genmab would produce clinical material to supply
PDL's investigational studies for certain of its pipeline products
under a clinical supply agreement.
Genmab's Torben Lund-Hansen, Ph.D. will serve as President of the
manufacturing facility. Dr. Lund-Hansen has served as Vice President, Head
of Manufacturing at Genmab since 2002. Previously, Dr. Lund-Hansen was
responsible for establishing manufacturing facilities for Novo Nordisk.
The transaction has been approved by the boards of directors of both
companies and is expected to close by the end of the first quarter of 2008.
The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions, including
clearance by the US antitrust authorities under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Act
and will become effective as soon as these conditions have been satisfied.
Merrill Lynch & Co. is acting as financial advisor and DLA Piper and
Briggs and Morgan, P.A. are acting as legal advisors to PDL in connection
with the transaction.
Genmab Conference Call
Genmab's senior management will hold a conference call about the news
today, February 21, 2008 at:
3:00 PM CET
2:00 PM GMT
9:00 AM EST
The dial in numbers are as follows:
+1 866 214 7077 (in the US)
+1 416 915 9608 (outside the US)
The conference call will be held in English.
A live webcast of the call will be available at www.genmab.com. The webcast will also be archived on Genmab's
website.
About Genmab A/S
Genmab is a leading international biotechnology company focused on
developing fully human antibody therapeutics for unmet medical needs. Using
unique, cutting-edge antibody technology, Genmab's world class
discovery and development teams have created and developed an extensive
pipeline of products for potential treatment of a variety of diseases
including cancer and autoimmune disorders. As Genmab advances towards a
commercial future, we remain committed to our primary goal of improving the
lives of patients who are in urgent need of new treatment options. For more
information on Genmab's products and technology, visit www.genmab.com.
About PDL
PDL BioPharma, Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering,
developing and commercializing innovative therapies for severe or
life-threatening illnesses. For more information, please visitwww.pdl.com.
Forward Looking Statement for Genmab:
This press release contains forward looking statements. The words
"believe", "expect", "anticipate",
"intend" and "plan" and similar expressions identify
forward looking statements. Actual results or performance may differ
materially from any future results or performance expressed or implied by
such statements. The important factors that could cause our actual results
or performance to differ materially include, among others, risks associated
with product discovery and development, uncertainties related to the
outcome and conduct of clinical trials including unforeseen safety issues,
uncertainties related to product manufacturing, the lack of market
acceptance of our products, our inability to manage growth, the competitive
environment in relation to our business area and markets, our inability to
attract and retain suitably qualified personnel, the unenforceability or
lack of protection of our patents and proprietary rights, our relationships
with affiliated entities, changes and developments in technology which may
render our products obsolete, and other factors. Genmab is not under an
obligation to up-date statements regarding the future following the
publication of this release; nor to confirm such statements in relation to
actual results, unless this is required by law.
Forward Looking Statement for PDL:
This press release contains forward-looking statements, including
regarding the expected closing of PDL's sale of manufacturing assets to
Genmab which involves risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ
materially from those, express or implied, in these forward-looking
statements. The consummation of the sale of assets could be adversely
impacted or prevented by failure to satisfy closing conditions, or
regulatory delays,. Other factors that may cause PDL's actual results
to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking
statements in this press release are discussed in PDL's filings with
the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), including the "Risk
Factors" sections of its annual and quarterly reports filed with the
SEC. Copies of PDL's filings with the SEC may be obtained at the
"Investors" section of PDL's website at http://www.pdl.com.
PDL expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to release publicly
any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein
to reflect any change in PDL's expectations with regard thereto or any
change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statements
are based for any reason, except as required by law, even as new
information becomes available or other events occur in the future. All
forward-looking statements in this press release are qualified in their
entirety by this cautionary statement.
Genmab®; the Y-shaped Genmab logo®; HuMax®; HuMax-CD4®; HuMax-CD20®;
HuMax-EGFr™; HuMax-IL8™; HuMax-TAC™; HuMax-HepC™; HuMax-CD38™; HuMax-CD32b™
and UniBody® are all trademarks of Genmab A/S.
NOTE: PDL BioPharma and the PDL BioPharma logo are considered trademarks of
PDL BioPharma, Inc.