WilmerHale is representing Epizyme, a fully integrated, commercial-stage biopharmaceutical company developing and delivering transformative therapies against novel epigenetic targets for cancer patients, in its acquisition by Ipsen, a global, biopharmaceutical company focused on transformative medicines in oncology, rare disease and neuroscience.

The transaction was unanimously approved by both Ipsen and Epizyme Boards of Directors and is anticipated to close by the end of the third quarter of 2022, subject to customary closing conditions. The deal is valued at $247 million plus possible amounts payable upon the satisfaction of certain milestones under contingent value rights to be issued to Epizyme shareholders in the transaction.

The primary focus of the acquisition is on the lead medicine, Tazverik® (tazemetostat), a first-in-class, chemotherapy-free EZH2a inhibitor, which was granted Accelerated Approval by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2020. As part of the transaction, Ipsen will also acquire Epizyme’s first-in-class, oral SETD2 inhibitor development candidate, EZM0414, which was granted FDA Fast Track status and is currently under evaluation.

The WilmerHale team was led by Hal Leibowitz and Stuart Falber and included Steve Barrett, Molly Fox, Judd Abramson, Andrew Langworthy, Sarah Matchett, Milan Kumar and Giancarlos Rodriguez with assistance from Ciara Baker, Leon Greenfield, Daniel Halston, Bruce Manheim, Kirk Nahra, Amy Null, Julie Hogan Rodgers, Matthew Schnall, Laura Schneider, Kimberly Wethly, Benjamin Kelsey, Gavin Tullis, Heidi Treiber and Carla Gilbertson in specialist areas.