Media Coverage
Source: The Deal
Media Coverage
Press Contacts: Erik Cummins, Matt Hyams, Olivia Thomas
01.11.19
A team of Pillsbury lawyers led by Silicon Valley Corporate partner Gabriella Lombardi advised San Diego-based Vital Therapies, Inc. in a definitive agreement under which Vital Therapies is expected to acquire all of the outstanding shares in Immunic AG in exchange for newly issued shares of Vital Therapies in an all-stock transaction. The company will focus on advancing Immunic‘s pipeline of novel and potentially transformative treatments for chronic inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. Upon closing of the transaction, the company is expected to operate under the name Immunic, Inc.
An investor syndicate including Life Sciences Partners, Omega Funds, Fund+, LifeCare Partners, Bayern Kapital, High-Tech Gründerfonds and IBG Beteiligungsgesellschaft Sachsen-Anhalt has committed to invest approximately EUR 26 million in the company at the closing of the transaction. This financing will help fund the further development of Immunic’s pharmaceutical product candidates and is expected to be consummated before or concurrently with the closing of the transaction, which is contingent upon this financing.
“Following an extensive and thorough review of strategic alternatives, we believe that this transaction with Immunic is the best path forward and has the potential to deliver significant and near-term value to Vital Therapies stockholders,” said Russell J. Cox, Chief Executive Officer of Vital Therapies. “We believe that the strength and dedication of the Immunic leadership team will provide our company with the capabilities to develop new and much-needed therapies for patients with inflammatory and autoimmune diseases.”
Immunic is a privately-held clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing best-in-class therapies for the treatment of chronic inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. The transaction is expected to close in the second quarter of 2019.
In addition to Lombardi, the Pillsbury team included Mike Hird, Mustapha Parekh, Mediha Ali, Jessica Lutrin, Nora Burke, Janessa Ingram and Victor Behar.