Ajay Athavale

Cooley advised Inmagene Biopharmaceuticals, a privately held, global clinical-stage biotechnology company developing novel therapeutics for immunological and inflammatory diseases, on its definitive merger agreement with Ikena Oncology (Nasdaq: IKNA).

Cooley advised Poseida Therapeutics, a clinical-stage allogeneic cell therapy and genetic medicines company advancing differentiated nonviral treatments for patients with cancer, autoimmune and rare diseases, on its merger agreement to be acquired by Roche at a price of $9 per share in cash at closing, plus a non-tradable contingent value right to receive up to an aggregate of $4 per share in cash, payable upon achievement of specified milestones. The price payable at closing represents a total equity value of up to $1.5 billion and a premium of approximately 215% to Poseida’s closing share price on November 25, 2024. Cooley previously represented Poseida in its initial public offering, equity and debt transactions, and collaboration agreements, including its collaboration agreement with Roche.

Cooley advised Geron Corporation (Nasdaq: GERN), a commercial-stage biopharmaceutical company aiming to change lives by changing the course of blood cancer, on its up to $375 million in synthetic royalty and debt financings with Royalty Pharma and Pharmakon Advisors.

Cooley advised Longboard Pharmaceuticals, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing novel, transformative medicines for neurological diseases, on its $2.6 billion sale to Lundbeck.

Cooley advised Nerio Therapeutics, a drug discovery and development company focused on phosphatases, a notoriously difficult class of potentially high-value therapeutic protein targets, on its sale to Boehringer Ingelheim, a biopharmaceutical company active in both human and animal health, for up to $1.3 billion.