ROCKVILLE, Md., Oct. 02, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- REGENXBIO Inc. (Nasdaq:RGNX) today announced that Dimension Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq:DMTX) notified REGENXBIO that it has determined that it has received a “superior proposal” as defined in the merger agreement under which REGENXBIO would have acquired Dimension in an all-stock transaction for an implied value of approximately $3.41 per share based on the closing stock price of REGENXBIO stock on August 24, 2017.
Late yesterday, Dimension notified REGENXBIO that its board of directors determined that the recently amended proposal from Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical Inc. (Nasdaq:RARE) to acquire Dimension for $6.00 per share in cash constituted a “superior proposal” and that Dimension’s board of directors intends to change its prior recommendation to Dimension’s stockholders to vote in favor of the proposed merger between REGENXBIO and Dimension. This notice invoked REGENXBIO’s matching right under the merger agreement. In response, REGENXBIO notified Dimension that it will not increase the consideration payable to Dimension stockholders under the merger agreement and that REGENXBIO has waived its matching rights. As a result of REGENXBIO’s response, Dimension has indicated it will terminate the merger agreement and pay REGENXBIO the $2.85 million termination fee concurrently with the termination.
“While the strategic rationale for a combination with Dimension is compelling, we believe our offer represented fair value and prudently enabled both companies’ shareholders to participate in the upside of the combined company,” said Kenneth T. Mills, President and Chief Executive Officer of REGENXBIO. “We take a disciplined approach to business development and will continue prioritizing the advancement of our proprietary NAV Technology Platform and our exciting, potentially life-changing gene therapy lead product candidates for retinal, metabolic and neurodegenerative diseases.”
Mr. Mills continued, "At REGENXBIO, our strategy has always been to accelerate the development of a broad and robust pipeline of NAV-based gene therapies in an effort to most rapidly meet the needs of patients suffering from a wide range of rare genetic diseases. We have done so through our internal lead product candidates and through partnerships with our many NAV Technology licensees, including Dimension."
Upon the completion of Ultragenyx’s acquisition of Dimension, Ultragenyx is expected to become a NAV Technology Licensee in the seven inherited metabolic disease fields, including OTC deficiency, GSDa1a and hemophilia A, currently licensed to Dimension by REGENXBIO. Dimension has one remaining limited option to an exclusive commercial license for a disease indication that is available for licensing, which would exclude, among other things, products under development by REGENXBIO or its NAV Technology Licensees.
Mr. Mills added, “We wish Ultragenyx and Dimension well, and we hope that Ultragenyx will use its considerable experience and resources to advance all of the programs licensed from REGENXBIO for the benefit of patients in need. We look forward to working with Ultragenyx to rapidly progress all of Dimension’s programs as provided for under the terms of our license agreements.”
About REGENXBIO
REGENXBIO is a leading clinical-stage biotechnology company seeking to improve lives through the curative potential of gene therapy. REGENXBIO’s NAV® Technology Platform, a proprietary adeno-associated virus (AAV) gene delivery platform, consists of exclusive rights to more than 100 novel AAV vectors, including AAV7, AAV8, AAV9 and AAVrh10. REGENXBIO and its third-party NAV Technology licensees are applying the NAV Technology Platform in the development of a broad pipeline of product candidates in multiple therapeutic areas.
