Roche acquires Ignyta and with it entrectinib, a CNS-active tyrosine kinase inhibitor directed to ROS1 or NTRK fusion cancers.

Roche and Ignyta, Inc. announced they have entered into a definitive merger agreement for Roche to fully acquire Ignyta at a price of $ 27.00 per share in an all-cash transaction. This corresponds to a total transaction value of $ 1.7 billion on a fully diluted basis. This price represents a premium of 74% to Ignyta�s closing price on 21 December 2017 and a premium of 71% and 89% to Ignyta�s 30-day and 90-day volume weighted average share price on 21 December 2017, respectively. The merger agreement has been unanimously approved by the boards of Ignyta and Roche.Under the terms of the merger agreement, Roche will promptly commence a tender offer, to acquire all outstanding shares of Ignyta common stock, and Ignyta will file a recommendation statement containing the unanimous recommendation of the Ignyta board that Ignyta�s shareholders tender their shares to Roche. Ignyta, based in San Diego, California, is focused on precision medicine in oncology aiming to test, identify, and treat patients with cancers harbouring specific rare mutations. Ignyta�s lead molecule entrectinib is an orally bioavailable, CNS-active tyrosine kinase inhibitor being developed for tumours that harbor ROS1 or NTRK fusions. An ongoing pivotal phase II clinical trial will support, if successful, dual NDA submissions. Entrectinib targets tumours with one of two genetically defined gene rearrangements: ROS1 fusions in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), and NTRK fusions across a broad range of solid tumours.