Algeta
Country: Norway
Investors: HealthCap
In 2005, Norwegian pain palliation specialist Algeta raised $29m with HealthCap as lead investor. Following the investment, HealthCap assisted Algeta in ensuring its product, Xofigo, reached full potential by redirecting its clinical focus from pain palliation to full cancer therapy. This involved clinical development, management team reinforcement and product globalisation.
Following the successful change in strategy, Algeta listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange, raising $41m in 2007 with a further $35m raised in 2009. Healthcap supported Algeta in achieving a commercialisation agreement with pharmaceuticals group Bayer, which, in 2014 acquired the business for $2.9bn. With FDA and EMA approval for Xofigo, the product has now launched in the US and Algeta has proved itself a pioneer in cancer therapy.
$2.9bn
acquisition by Bayer AG in 2014
19x
gross return multiple for HealthCap
Algeta’s management needed time to fully establish “Alpha” as a major new therapeutic class and HealthCap’s long term strategic commitment enabled a steady increase in share price culminating in a major acquisition deal.
What did the business need?
Define a well-positioned clinical focus and a clear strategy for clinical development
Raise funding from international investors to finance the pivotal clinical trial
Attract experienced international management to build a strong leader team
Engage with global players from the oncology field for potential structure deals
How did private equity backing create lasting value?
Guided the clinical development strategy from pain palliation to castration resistant prostate cancer, an indication with a substantially higher value potential
Led the series A round which raised $29 million; invited international investor to join the financing round
Strengthened and restructured the management team by introducing CEO Andrew Kay
Kept influential representatives on the board of Algta before the acquisition
What outcomes did private equity investment achieve?
Xofigo becomes the only approved alphaparticle emitter drug for cancer therapy by both FDA and EMA
Share price of Algeta has increased by 650% since the IPO
Algeta acquired for $2.9 billion by Bayer in February 2014
19x payout for HealthCap in Algeta investment
Investors
