Roivant/Roche: Did Pfizer Miss Out?

Merck/Prometheus Deal Changed TL1A Market Dynamics

 
• By Jessica Merrill
  
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Pfizer gave US rights to an asset to Roivant, which turned around and sold it to Roche for $7.1bn 10 months later. Pfizer says it’s content with the 25% stake it will receive. Roivant CEO Matt Gline also talked to Scrip about the sudden turnaround. 

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Pfizer's deal with Roivant raises questions • Source: Shutterstock

The original deal between Pfizer Inc. and Roivant Sciences Ltd. for the tumor necrosis factor-like ligand 1A (TL1A) inhibitor RVT-3101 was perplexing when it happened in December 2022, because Pfizer gave away US rights for the potential blockbuster asset to Roivant for no upfront fee, choosing instead to retain a 25% stake in the company Roivant built to develop the drug, Telavant Holdings, Inc. Now, just 10 months later, Roivant is selling Telavant to Roche Holding AG for $7.1bn.

Key Takeaways

  • Pfizer will receive $1.78bn from its 25% stake in Telavant, but it could have brokered a deal independently.

Pfizer will receive $1.78bn from its 25% stake while Roivant Sciences will receive $5.32bn, which raises questions about why Pfizer...

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