San Diego – February 5, 2021 – Cooley advised Horizon Therapeutics on its agreement to acquire Viela Bio, under which Horizon will acquire all of the issued and outstanding shares of Viela Bio in a transaction representing a fully diluted equity value of approximately $3.05 billion. Partners Barbara Borden and Rama Padmanabhan led the Cooley team advising Horizon on the transaction, which is expected to close by the end of Q1.

The acquisition will add to Horizon’s commercial rare disease medicine portfolio, strengthen its current R&D capability by adding a team with early-stage research, translational and clinical development capabilities and deep scientific knowledge in autoimmune and severe inflammatory diseases. It will also add a mid-stage biologics pipeline focused primarily on autoimmune and severe inflammatory diseases.

“This acquisition represents a significant step forward in advancing our strategy – to expand our pipeline in order to accelerate our growth over the long term,” Tim Walbert, Horizon’s chairman, president and CEO, said in a news release. “We intend to maximize the full potential of Viela’s pipeline, including the pursuit of additional future indications.”

Horizon is focused on researching, developing and commercializing medicines that address critical needs for people impacted by rare and rheumatic diseases. Leading with science and compassion, its team focuses on improving patients’ lives by maximizing the potential of existing medicines as well as developing new life-changing treatments. 

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