Natasha Leskovsek

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 Aclaris Therapeutics (Nasdaq: ACRS), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing novel drug candidates for immuno-inflammatory diseases, on its exclusive license agreement with Biosion and $80 million private placement.

Cooley advised Avid Bioservices (Nasdaq: CDMO), a dedicated biologics contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) working to improve patient lives by providing high quality development and manufacturing services to biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies, on its definitive merger agreement to be acquired by funds managed by GHO Capital Partners and Ampersand Capital Partners in an all-cash transaction valued at approximately $1.1 billion.

Cooley advised the underwriters of Septerna, a clinical-stage biotechnology company pioneering a new era of G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) oral small molecule drug discovery, on its upsized $331.2 million initial public offering.

Cooley advised Chimagen Biosciences, a privately held biotechnology company, on its agreement to sell CMG1A46, a clinical-stage dual CD19 and CD20-targeted T-cell engager (TCE), to GSK, a global biopharma company, for an upfront payment of $300 million, plus success-based development and commercial milestone payments totaling up to $550 million.