Pharma BD Deal Intelligence

Mereo BioPharma Group plc / OncoMed Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

2018 · Reverse Merger · $57M · Complete

CALLED IT — OFF BY 23

The Nasdaq listing was the real prize; both OncoMed oncology assets (etigilimab, navicixizumab) fizzled and were out-licensed for token sums, while Mereo's value now rests entirely on unrelated rare-disease assets.

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The coverage arc

Dec 05, 2018 Endpoints News Bearish

Endpoints framed the deal as Mereo executing a 'back flip onto Nasdaq' by combining with a 'flailing OncoMed,' highlighting the transaction as a low-cost route…

Apr 24, 2019 FierceBiotech Neutral

Post-close coverage emphasized Mereo retained 'a select number of OncoMed employees' and the Redwood City base, with skepticism about whether the navicixizumab…

Oct 07, 2019 GlobeNewswire (Mereo) Bullish

Mereo announced FDA Fast Track designation for navicixizumab in heavily pretreated ovarian cancer following phase 1b data showing 43% ORR with paclitaxel — the…

Source summaries from our enrichment pipeline; follow links for originals.

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UK-listed Mereo BioPharma announced December 2018 stock-for-stock reverse merger with US-listed OncoMed Pharmaceuticals to gain Nasdaq listing and add two oncology candidates (navicixizumab anti-DLL4/VEGF bispecific and etigilimab anti-TIGIT). OncoMed shareholders received Mereo ADSs plus contingent value rights, with former OncoMed holders owning ~25% of combined company. Strategically notable as a precedent-setting transatlantic biotech reverse merger structure. Closed April 23, 2019.

Did it work? Outcome assessment

The Nasdaq listing was the real prize; both OncoMed oncology assets (etigilimab, navicixizumab) fizzled and were out-licensed for token sums, while Mereo's value now rests entirely on unrelated rare-disease assets.

Strategic verdict
Failed to Achieve
Financial impact
Neutral
Pipeline outcome
Mixed

Key facts

Related deals — scored

DealYearValueOutcome
Mereo BioPharma Group plc / OncoMed Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (this deal)2018$57M27
AstraZeneca PLC / Daiichi Sankyo Company, Limited2019$6.9B100
Novartis AG / Endocyte, Inc.2018$2.1B96
Astellas Pharma Inc. / Seagen Inc.2009$4.5B95
Bristol-Myers Squibb Company / Medarex Inc.2009$2.4B92
Servier / Agios Pharmaceuticals (oncology)2020$2.0B91
Servier Pharmaceuticals LLC / Agios Pharmaceuticals Inc.2020$2.0B91

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