Molecular Partners launches IPO on SIX Swiss Exchange

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1 For release in Switzerland only. This is a restricted communication and you must not forward it or its contents to any person to whom forwarding it is prohibited by the legends contained therein. In particular, this release and the information contained therein is not being issued and may not be distributed in the United States of America, Canada, Australia or Japan and does not constitute an offer of securities for sale in such or any other countries. Molecular Partners launches IPO on SIX Swiss Exchange Zurich Schlieren, September 23, Molecular Partners AG announced today its plans to list its shares on the SIX Swiss Exchange in the fourth quarter of The initial public offering (IPO) will enable the company to continue to advance and expand its proprietary pipeline and technology platform. Molecular Partners is a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company based in Switzerland that focuses on the discovery and development of a pioneering class of protein therapies called DARPins. The company's purpose is to discover and develop multi benefit therapies to treat patients with severe or life threatening diseases, with a focus on diseases of the eye (ophthalmology) and cancer (oncology). Its most advanced product candidate, abicipar pegol (Abicipar), is partnered with Allergan, Inc. (Allergan) and is being developed for the treatment of wet age related macular degeneration (or wet AMD), a leading cause of blindness in the developed world. Abicipar is also being developed for diabetic macular edema (or DME), a leading cause of blindness in the working age populations in the developed world. Allergan expects to initiate a Phase III clinical trial for Abicipar in wet AMD in the second quarter of Other activities in the area of ophthalmology include development of a preclinical stage multi benefit DARPin partnered with Allergan that is designed to inhibit vascular endothelial growth factor A (or VEGF) and platelet derived growth factor (or PDGF), two key pathways involved in wet AMD. In oncology, Molecular Partners most advanced proprietary product candidate is MP0250, a multi benefit DARPin that targets VEGF and hepatocyte growth factor (or 1/5

2 HGF), two key pathways involved in tumor growth. MP0250 is currently in Phase I clinical development for the treatment of a variety of solid tumors. In addition, the company is developing MP0274, a proprietary product candidate in early preclinical development that is designed to bind to human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (or HER2), a receptor protein that promotes the growth of cancer cells. MP0274 is being developed as a potentially more potent alternative to enhance efficacy versus currently marketed HER2 targeted therapies. Molecular Partners has an experienced board and management team including key founders. It is backed by leading venture capital investors Essex Woodlands Health Ventures, Index Ventures and Johnson & Johnson Development Corporation, BB Biotech Ventures and Endeavour Vision. To broaden the reach of the DARPin platform, Molecular Partners has forged powerful partnerships with blue chip pharmaceutical companies, such as Allergan and F. Hoffmann La Roche Ltd (Roche) through which it is able to access the significant expertise and know how of its partners. To date, Molecular Partners has raised approximately CHF56 million of venture capital and collected approximately CHF161 million of non equity funding from its blue chip partners. Just yesterday, Molecular Partners was named by FierceBiotech as one of 2014 s Fierce 15 biotechnology companies, designating it as one of the most promising private biotechnology companies in the industry. The internationally recognized daily industry report evaluates hundreds of private biotechnology companies from around the world for its annual Fierce 15 list, which is based on a variety of factors such as the strength of its technology, partnerships, venture backers and competitive market position. Molecular Partners intends to complete the IPO in the fourth quarter of The proceeds of the primary offering of approximately CHF 125 million (pre overallotment option) will be used to fund the continued development of proprietary DARPin product candidates, and for investments in R&D activities and capabilities, the financing of in licensing or acquisition of complementary businesses and technologies and general corporate purposes. Christian Zahnd, CEO of Molecular Partners, comments: Together with my founding partners, we started the business ten years ago. Since then we have successfully developed 2/5

3 Molecular Partners as a pioneer in the development of multi benefit therapies with the vision to transform the lives of patients. Today, Molecular Partners is developing an exciting and rich pipeline of four DARPin product candidates and several research programs targeting high value indications. Our work focuses on significantly improving the lives of patients in need and to create long term value to our shareholders. I am enthusiastic about the prospects of continuing to build a sustainable biopharmaceutical company and the future growth which will be supported by the planned IPO. J.P. Morgan is acting as the Sole Global Coordinator and Joint Bookrunner and UBS Investment Bank is acting as Joint Bookrunner. Cowen and Company and Bank am Bellevue are acting as Co Managers in connection with the IPO. 3/5

4 About Molecular Partners AG Molecular Partners is a clinical stage biotechnology company that is developing a new powerful class of therapies known as DARPins. DARPins are potent, specific and versatile small protein therapies that are designed to function as a team to select and stop multiple disease specific targets to achieve substantial patient benefit. DARPins have the potential to advance modern medicine and significantly improve the treatment of serious diseases, including cancer and sight threatening disorders. Molecular Partners has four compounds in various stages of clinical and preclinical development and several more in the research stage, with a current focus on ophthalmology and oncology. The most advanced product candidate is abicipar pegol, for which the company's partner Allergan plans to initiate a Phase III clinical trial in wet AMD. The company has ongoing research and development partnerships with leading pharmaceutical companies including Allergan, Roche and Janssen and is backed by established biotech investors. For more information regarding Molecular Partners, please visit: For further details, please contact Rolf Schläpfer Hirzel.Neef.Schmid.Konsulenten Tel: +41 (0) rolf.schlaepfer@konsulenten.ch Dr. Christian Zahnd, CEO christian.zahnd@molecularpartners.com Dr. Patrick Amstutz, COO patrick.amstutz@molecularpartners.com Tel: +41 (0) /5

5 Legal Notice This announcement is not an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to purchase, any securities of the Company, nor shall it or any part of it form the basis of, or be relied on in connection with any contract or investment decision. This announcement is not for publication or distribution (directly or indirectly) in or to the United States, Canada, Australia, Japan or any other jurisdiction in which such distribution would be unlawful. This announcement is not an offer of securities for sale in the United States. The securities to which this announcement relates have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Securities Act ), and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an exemption from registration under the Securities Act. There will not be a public offering of securities in the United States. This announcement is not an offering circular within the meaning of Article 652a of the Swiss Code of Obligations, nor is it a listing prospectus within the meaning of the listing rules of the SIX Swiss Exchange or a prospectus under any other applicable laws. Investors should not subscribe for or purchase any securities referred to in this announcement except on the basis of information in any prospectus (and any supplement(s) thereto) which may be published in due course. Copies of any prospectus will, following publication, be available from the Company s registered office. This document does not constitute a recommendation regarding the shares. This communication is directed only at persons (i) who are outside the United Kingdom or (ii) who have professional experience in matters relating to investments and who fall within article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005 (as amended) (the "Order") or (iii) who fall within article 49(2)(a) to (d) ("high net worth companies, unincorporated associations etc.") of the Order (all such persons together being referred to as "Relevant Persons"). Any investment or investment activity to which this communication relates is available only to Relevant Persons and will be engaged in only with Relevant Persons. Any person who is not a Relevant Person must not act or rely on this communication or any of its contents. This communication does not constitute an "offer of securities to the public" within the meaning of Directive 2003/71/EC of the European Union (the "Prospectus Directive") of the securities referred to herein in any member state of the European Economic Area (the "EEA"). Any offers of the securities referred to in this announcement to persons in the EEA will be made pursuant to an exemption under the Prospectus Directive, as implemented in member states of the EEA, from the requirement to produce a prospectus for offers of the Securities. This announcement contains statements that are, or may be deemed to be, forward looking statements. In some case, these forward looking statements can be identified by the use of forward looking terminology or subjective assessments, including the words expects, targets, designed, intends or plans or comparable terminology or by discussions of plans, objectives, targets, goals, future events or intentions. These forward looking statements include matters that are not historical facts or which may not otherwise be provable by reference to past events, and are based on assumptions. By their nature, forward looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties because they relate to events and/or depend on circumstances that may or may not occur in the future. There are a number of factors that could cause actual results and developments to differ materially from those expressed or implied by these statements and forecasts. Past performance of the Company cannot be relied on as a guide to future performance. The information, opinions and forward looking statements contained in this announcement speak only as at its date, and are subject to change without notice. Neither the Company nor any other person undertakes any obligation to review, update, confirm, or to release publicly any revisions to any forward looking statements to reflect events that occur or circumstances that arise in relation to the content of this announcement. Each of the sole global coordinator, the joint bookrunners and co managers is acting exclusively for the Company in connection with the planned offering. They will not regard any other person as their respective client in relation to the planned offering and will neither be responsible nor provide protection to anyone other than the Company, nor will they provide advice to anyone other than the Company in relation to the planned offering, the contents of this announcement or any other matter referred to herein. In connection with the offer or sale of the securities referred to herein, the underwriters may over allot the securities or effect transactions with a view to supporting the market price of the securities at a level higher than that which might otherwise prevail. Any stabilisation action or over allotment will be conducted by the underwriters in accordance with all applicable laws and rules. Save as required by law or regulation, the underwriters do not intend to disclose the extent of any stabilisation action. No representation is made as to whether the underwriters will engage in any stabilisation activity or that this activity, if commenced, will not be discontinued without notice. 5/5