BioXcel Therapeutics has filed for bankruptcy and lined up a deal for Teva Pharmaceuticals to acquire its assets for $57.5 million upfront.
Connecticut-based BioXcel’s cash crisis has reached a head in recent weeks, with the company telling investors that it lacked the money to fund operations through the end of August. BioXcel secured a loan early this week but, lacking a lasting solution to its financial woes, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on Thursday.
The bankruptcy paperwork revealed that, after months of efforts to land a deal, Teva emerged (PDF) as the most viable strategic bidder for the assets. With Teva having already done extensive due diligence of the assets, BioXcel selected the company as the stalking horse bidder for the bankruptcy process.
Under the terms of the stalking horse deal, Teva could buy substantially all of BioXcel’s assets for $57.5 million upfront and up to $67.5 million in milestones. BioXcel could receive a better offer through the planned bidding and auction process, but the Teva deal gives it a baseline valuation of the assets. Teva has submitted a good faith deposit of $5.7 million.
BioXcel’s assets include BXCL501, an orally dissolving film formulation of dexmedetomidine that is under review at the FDA. The agency is set to rule by Nov. 14 on whether to approve the drug candidate for the at-home, acute treatment of agitation associated with bipolar disorders or schizophrenia.
If BXCL501 bags approval by the deadline, BioXcel will receive the full $67.5 million in milestones under the Teva deal. BioXcel will receive a $55 million milestone if the FDA misses its current PDUFA target but approves the asset by Feb. 27. If the FDA approves the asset after that date, BioXcel will receive a smaller regulatory milestone but become eligible for payments tied to net sales.
BioXcel’s pipeline extends beyond BXCL501. An oral innate immune activator, BXCL701, is the lead asset in the biotech’s immuno-oncology pipeline. But the stalking horse deal centers on neuroscience assets. The assets could strengthen Teva’s neuroscience portfolio and align with its focus on acquiring molecules with a clear strategic fit and long-term growth potential, the Israeli drugmaker said in a statement.