Resverlogix and China-based Shenzhen Hepalink Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. Announce a Combination Licensing and Equity Arrangement
Alberta (ots/PRNewswire)
The deal structure involves CAD$50 million in equity investments, and future China sales milestones and licensing royalties that could represent in excess of US$400
million
Resverlogix Corp. ("Resverlogix" or the "Company") today announced that it has entered into a Framework Agreement which sets forth the principal business terms for an equity investment and a license of RVX-208, for all indications, to Shenzhen Hepalink Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. ("Hepalink") for China, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Macau (the "Territories"). The completion of the transaction remains subject to execution of a definitive stock purchase agreement and license agreement.
Under the terms of the transaction, Hepalink will subscribe for 13,270,000 Resverlogix common shares and 1,000,000 common share purchase warrants, for aggregate proceeds of approximately CAD$35 million, or CAD$2.67 per unit. Each warrant is exercisable into one common share at CAD$2.67 per share for a period of five years. After giving effect to the transaction, Hepalink will hold approximately 12.69% of Resverlogix's common shares. The common shares and warrants issued to Hepalink will be subject to a three year lock-up period. Hepalink will also be entitled to nominate one mutually agreed representative for election to the board of directors of the Company.
In addition, subject to completion of the Hepalink transaction, Eastern Capital Limited ("Eastern") will purchase 5,600,000 common shares and 422,005 common share purchase warrants for aggregate consideration of approximately CAD$15 million, or CAD$2.67 per unit. Therefore, total equity investment by Hepalink and Eastern exceeds CAD$50 million. Eastern holds 14,965,307 shares of Resverlogix which represents 17.46% of the 85,699,287 common shares outstanding before giving effect to any outstanding warrants. Eastern currently holds 7,578,232 common share purchase warrants of Resverlogix. Assuming all warrants are exercised before giving effect to the transaction, Eastern will hold approximately 24.17% of the common shares outstanding. After giving effect to the transaction, assuming all warrants held by Eastern are exercised, Eastern would hold 28,565,544 common shares of Resverlogix representing 25.38% of Resverlogix's issued and outstanding common shares based on shares outstanding as at today's date.
The subscription for common shares and warrants by Eastern is a related party transaction within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws as Eastern is an insider of the Company. The transaction is exempt from the formal valuation and minority approval requirements applicable to related party transactions on the basis that the value of the transaction insofar as it involves related parties is less than 25 percent of the Company's market capitalization.
Under the license between Resverlogix and Hepalink, should RVX-208 reach certain annual sales milestones ranging from 500 million renminbi ("RMB") to RMB 10 billion, Resverlogix is eligible to receive sales-based milestone payments from Hepalink, each ranging from US$5 million to US$90 million. In addition, Hepalink shall pay royalties based on net sales. Total sales based milestones and royalty payments are estimated in excess of US$400 million. The license shall expire on a region-by-region basis on the later of the 15th anniversary of the first commercial sale in such region or the expiry date of the last-to-expire of any licensed patent.
Hepalink will be responsible for all clinical and development costs in the Territories, including a patient population that will be included in Resverlogix's planned Phase 3 BETonMACE trial.
Resverlogix intends to use the net proceeds to fund its: (i) research and development activities (alone or through strategic collaboration) including clinical development (including clinical trials and the clinical development of our product candidates), non-clinical development, research, discovery, chemistry and regulatory costs; (ii) repayment of outstanding indebtedness and/or payment of interest thereon; and (iii) general and administrative expenses, capital expenditures, working capital needs and other general corporate purposes.
Under the agreement between Resverlogix and Hepalink, Hepalink's price shall be the manufacturing cost plus 10%. Resverlogix also granted Hepalink an option to manufacture and supply products comprising RVX-208 outside the Territories. Resverlogix's price will be the manufacturing cost plus 10%. Resverlogix has the right to select a qualified third party to manufacture RVX-208 outside the Territories if Hepalink fails to meet the industry standards required.
The closing of the transaction will also be subject to, among other things, execution of definitive agreements, customary closing conditions for a transaction of this nature, shareholder approval of the majority of the votes cast by the shareholders of Resverlogix (excluding Eastern in certain circumstances) at a special meeting of the shareholders of Resverlogix, approval of the Toronto Stock Exchange and other regulatory approvals. The Framework Agreement requires that definitive agreements be executed by July 26, 2015, failing which the Framework Agreement will automatically terminate. The transaction is anticipated to close in June 2015. Resverlogix has agreed not to enter into negotiations with third parties with regards to the grant of license of RVX-208 in the Territories for three months.
About RVX-208
RVX-208 is a first-in-class, small molecule selective BET bromodomain inhibitor. BET bromodomain inhibition is an epigenetic mechanism that can turn disease-causing genes off, returning them to a healthier state. RVX-208 is the first and only BET inhibitor selective for BRD4-BD2, producing a nexus of biological effects with potentially important benefits for patients with diseases such as cardiovascular disease (CVD), diabetes mellitus (DM), Alzheimer's disease, peripheral artery disease, and chronic kidney disease while maintaining an excellent safety profile. Resverlogix is planning to study RVX-208 in a proposed Phase 3 clinical trial in CVD patients with DM and low HDL.
About Resverlogix
Resverlogix Corp. is developing RVX-208, a first-in-class, small molecule selective BET bromodomain inhibitor for the potential treatment of patients with cardiovascular disease, diabetes mellitus, Alzheimer's disease, peripheral artery disease, and chronic kidney disease. RVX-208 is the only selective BET bromodomain inhibitor in clinical trials. Resverlogix's common shares trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange . For further information please visit http://www.resverlogix.com. We can be followed on our blog at http://www.resverlogix.com/blog and via Twitter https://twitter.com/resverlogix_rvx @Resverlogix_RVX.
About Shenzhen Hepalink
Shenzhen Hepalink Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. is a global pharmaceutical leader in manufacturing and development of Heparin Sodium API to international pharmaceutical companies such as Sanofi-Aventis, Fresenius Kabi and Novartis. Heparin is widely used as an important anticoagulant therapeutic agent in high-risk cardiovascular disease patients around the world. Hepalink is listed on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange. Hepalink has created a proprietary process for dealing with impurities and composition separation and activity release technologies in the production of Heparin Sodium API. Hepalink has established a comprehensive quality management system in line with China GMP standards and the US and European cGMP standards and regulations. Hepalink is approved by the U.S. FDA and EU regulatory authorities, and is also one of the primary participants in the revision of the USP pharmacopeia standards. For more information, please visit http://www.hepalink.com.
This news release may contain certain forward-looking information as defined under applicable Canadian securities legislation, that are not based on historical fact, including without limitation statements containing the words "believes", "anticipates", "plans", "intends", "will", "should", "expects", "continue", "estimate", "forecasts" and other similar expressions. In particular, this news release includes forward looking information relating to the terms and conditions of the proposed equity financing and license agreement, the Company entering into definitive agreements relating to the proposed transaction and the timing of the completion of the transaction, potential future milestone payments and royalty payments to be received by the Company, the use of proceeds of the financing, Phase 3 clinical trials planned by the Company, research and development activities and the potential role of RVX-208 in the treatment of cardiovascular disease, Alzheimer's disease, peripheral artery disease and chronic kidney disease. There is no certainty that the proposed transaction will be completed on the terms described herein or at all. Our actual results, events or developments could be materially different from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. We can give no assurance that any of the events or expectations will occur or be realized. By their nature, forward-looking statements are subject to numerous assumptions and risk factors including those discussed in our Annual Information Form and most recent MD&A which are incorporated herein by reference and are available through SEDAR at http://www.sedar.com. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement and are made as of the date hereof. The Company disclaims any intention and has no obligation or responsibility, except as required by law, to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
For further information, please contact:
Company Contacts: Donald J. McCaffrey President and CEO Resverlogix Corp. Phone: +1-403-254-9252 Email: don@resverlogix.com Sarah Zapotichny Director, Investor Relations & Corporate Communications Resverlogix Corp. Phone: +1-403-254-9252 Email: sarah@resverlogix.com Media: Tony Russo, Ph.D. Matt Middleman, M.D. Russo Partners, LLC Phone: +1-212 845 4251 Phone: +1-212-845-4272 Email: tony.russo@russopartnersllc.com Email: matt.middleman@russopartnersllc.com