Goodwin’s Life Sciences team advised Inotek Pharmaceuticals in its definitive merger agreement with Rocket Pharmaceuticals Ltd., a leading U.S.-based gene therapy company. Shareholders of Rocket Pharmaceuticals will receive shares of newly issued Inotek common shares in a private placement. The transaction has been unanimously approved by the boards of directors of both companies.
Subject to shareholder approval, the combined company will retain the name Rocket Pharmaceuticals, headquartered in New York City, and will focus on developing and advancing its pipeline of gene therapies based on lentiviral virus and adeno-associated virus gene therapy platforms, with a focus on treating devastating rare diseases. The merger is expected to close in the beginning of 2018, subject to customary closing conditions, including the approval by stockholders of Inotek.
Inotek Pharmaceuticals is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery, development and commercialization of therapies for ocular diseases, including glaucoma.
Rocket Pharmaceuticals is an emerging biotechnology company focused on developing first-in-class gene therapy treatment options for rare, undertreated diseases.
The Goodwin team was led by partners Mitchell Bloom and Andrew Goodman and included partners Edwin O’Connor, Deborah Birnbach, Jennifer Fay, Jim Mattus, Janet Andolina and Bob Kester and Christina Bitter.
For additional details on the transaction, please read the press release.