Pharma BD Deal Intelligence

UCB S.A. / Ra Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

2019 · Acquisition/Merger · $2.1B · Complete

Outcome grade pending — assessed 5 years post-close.

Full analysis, sources & comparables →

The coverage arc

Oct 10, 2019 BioPharma Dive Bullish

UCB paid $48/share (93% premium) for Ra Pharma to bolt zilucoplan onto rozanolixizumab in gMG; Stifel modeled close to $2B peak sales and Jefferies over…

Oct 10, 2019 UCB (announcement) Bullish

UCB frames the acquisition of Ra Pharmaceuticals and lead asset zilucoplan as joining forces to improve treatment options for people living with myasthenia…

Apr 08, 2020 BioPharm International (completion) Bullish

CEO Jean-Christophe Tellier: 'This acquisition is a key part of this progress and an excellent strategic fit with UCB's strategy,' on completing the Ra…

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

All 9 sources with sentiment breakdown →

UCB acquired Ra Pharmaceuticals for $48/share in cash, a transaction valued at approximately $2.3 billion (EUR2.1 billion), announced October 10, 2019 and completed April 2, 2020. The lead asset, zilucoplan, is a once-daily subcutaneous, targeted peptide inhibitor of complement component 5 (C5), in pivotal Phase 3 (RAISE study) for generalized myasthenia gravis (gMG) at the time of the deal. The thesis fully played out: on October 17, 2023 the FDA approved zilucoplan as ZILBRYSQ for the treatment of adults with anti-acetylcholine receptor (AChR) antibody-positive gMG -- the only once-daily, self-administered gMG-targeted therapy -- and UCB launched it commercially in the U.S.

Did it work? Outcome assessment

Strategic verdict
Achieved Stated Rationale
Financial impact
Neutral
Pipeline outcome
Assets Advanced

Key facts

Related deals — scored

DealYearValueOutcome
UCB S.A. / Ra Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (this deal)2019$2.1B
UCB S.A. / Candid Therapeutics, Inc.2026$2.2B
UCB S.A. / Zogenix Inc.2022$1.9B
UCB S.A. / Neurona Therapeutics, Inc.2026$1.1B
UCB S.A. / Antengene Corporation Limited2026$1.2B
Amgen Inc. / Immunex Corporation2002$16.0B92
PerkinElmer, Inc. / EUROIMMUN Medizinische Labordiagnostika AG2017$1.3B88

Compare all 7 side-by-side →

See the full interactive analysis, sources & comparables →