Celgene acquires Receptos for $7.2 billion and with it ozanimod for ulcerative colitis and MS

Celgene Corporation and Receptos, Inc. have announced the signing of a definitive agreement in which Celgene will acquire Receptos. The acquisition of Receptos significantly enhances Celgene's Inflammation & Immunology (I&I) portfolio, further diversifies the Company's revenue beginning in 2019 and beyond, and builds upon Celgene's growing expertise in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The transaction adds ozanimod, a novel, potential best-in-class, oral once-daily selective sphingosine 1-phosphate 1 and 5 receptor modulator (S1P) to Celgene's pipeline. Based on clinical studies, ozanimod demonstrated several areas of potential advantage over existing oral therapies for the treatment of ulcerative colitis (UC) and relapsing multiple sclerosis (RMS), including its cardiac, hepatotoxicity and lymphocyte recovery profile. The phase III TRUE NORTH trial in UC is currently underway with data expected in 2018. The phase III RADIANCE and SUNBEAM RMS trials are ongoing and data are expected in the first half of 2017 to support a RMS approval in 2018. Additionally, ozanimod is positioned to potentially become the first S1P receptor modulator to be approved for IBD.