On July 14, 2014 Jazz Pharmaceuticals reported that the company has signed a definitive agreement with Sigma-Tau Pharmaceuticals under which a subsidiary of Jazz Pharmaceuticals plc (Jazz) will acquire from Sigma-Tau rights to defibrotide in the United States (U.S.) and all other countries in the Americas (Press release, Jazz Pharmaceuticals, JUL 2, 2014, View Source [SID1234537662]). Sigma-Tau holds rights to market defibrotide in the Americas under an agreement with Gentium S.p.A., which was acquired by Jazz earlier this year. Defibrotide is a novel product that is marketed by Jazz in the European Union (EU) under the name Defitelio for the treatment of severe hepatic veno-occlusive disease (VOD) in patients over one month of age undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) therapy. In the U.S., Jazz is working with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on the regulatory pathway for submission of a New Drug Application (NDA) for the potential approval of defibrotide to treat patients with severe VOD.

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As part of the agreement, Sigma-Tau would receive an upfront payment of $75 million upon closing of the transaction. Sigma-Tau would be eligible to receive milestone payments of $25 million upon the acceptance for filing by the FDA of the first NDA for defibrotide for VOD and up to an additional $150 million based on the timing of potential FDA approval of defibrotide for VOD. Jazz expects to fund the transaction with cash on hand and that the transaction will close during the third quarter of 2014, subject to customary closing conditions, including expiration or termination of the waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976.

"The acquisition of the remaining worldwide rights to defibrotide is a strong strategic fit with our specialty focus and would continue the momentum of our recent launch of Defitelio in the EU, further leveraging our global clinical and commercial expertise in hematology/oncology," said Bruce Cozadd, chairman and chief executive officer of Jazz Pharmaceuticals plc. "This transaction supports our mission to improve care for patients with serious medical conditions, and we remain committed to making targeted investments to develop and bring to market differentiated treatments for patients."

"This transaction would not only strengthen our global presence, but also demonstrate our commitment to diversify and expand our U.S. commercial portfolio with meaningful new therapies," said Russell Cox, executive vice president and chief operating officer of Jazz Pharmaceuticals plc. "We look forward to ongoing discussions with the FDA as we continue our efforts toward submission of an NDA for defibrotide in the U.S. Patients in the U.S. with severe VOD have a critical unmet medical need, and we believe that defibrotide has the potential to become an important treatment option for these patients."

About Defitelio▼ (defibrotide)
In October 2013, the European Commission granted marketing authorization under exceptional circumstances for Defitelio▼ (defibrotide) for the treatment of severe VOD in HSCT therapy. It is indicated in patients over one month of age. Defitelio is not indicated in patients with hypersensitivity to defibrotide or any of its excipients or with concomitant use of thrombolytic therapy.

In addition to its existing approved indication in the EU, defibrotide has the potential to be developed for approval in countries outside the EU and in other indications. Defibrotide has been granted orphan drug designation to treat and prevent VOD by the FDA, by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and by the Korean Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS), orphan drug designation for the treatment of VOD by the Commonwealth of Australia-Department of Health, and Fast Track designation to treat severe VOD by the FDA.

In the EU, please consult the Defitelio summary of product characteristics before prescribing, particularly in relation to use of medicinal products that increase the risk of hemorrhage, concomitant systemic anticoagulant therapy, medicinal products that affect platelet aggregation, use in patients who have or develop clinically significant acute bleeding requiring blood transfusion, and patients who have hemodynamic instability.

▼ This medicinal product is subject to additional monitoring.

About VOD
Hepatic veno-occlusive disease (VOD) is an early complication in patients undergoing HSCT therapy. In its severe form, VOD can be life-threatening and is associated with multi-organ failure and is fatal in over 80% of patients.1,2 HSCTs are performed with curative intent in patients with hematological malignancies, selected solid tumors and some non-malignant disorders, such as serious hemoglobinopathies.3,4 Studies have reported a wide range of incidence rates for VOD, suggesting that 5-15% of patients undergoing HSCT develop VOD.2,5,6

Conference Call Information
Jazz Pharmaceuticals will host a conference call and live audio webcast today at 8:30 a.m. EDT/1:30 p.m. IST to discuss this transaction and related matters. Interested parties may access the live audio webcast and slide presentation via the Investors & Media section of the Jazz Pharmaceuticals website at www.jazzpharmaceuticals.com. Please connect to the website prior to the start of the conference call to ensure adequate time for any software downloads that may be necessary to listen to the webcast. A replay of the webcast will be archived on the website for one week.

Audio Webcast/Conference Call:
U.S. Dial-In Number: +1 866 543 6403
Outside the U.S. Dial-In Number: +1 617 213 8896
Passcode: 11784518

A replay of the conference call will be available through July 9, 2014 and accessible through one of the following telephone numbers and entering the passcode:

Replay U.S. Dial-In Number: +1 888 286 8010
Replay Outside the U.S. Dial-In Number: +1 617 801 6888
Passcode: 47229125