Hikma Pharmaceuticals PLC (Hikma), the multinational pharmaceutical company and one of the largest suppliers of generic injectable medicines in the US, today announces that it has agreed to acquire Custopharm Inc. (‘Custopharm’) from Water Street Healthcare Partners (‘Water Street’).

Hikma will pay an initial cash consideration of $375 million on a debt and cash-free basis, with a further $50 million in contingent consideration payable upon the achievement of certain commercial milestones.   

Custopharm, a US-based generic sterile injectables company with a differentiated product portfolio and R&D pipeline, currently markets its products in the US through its commercial arm Leucadia Pharmaceuticals.  Since partnering with Water Street in 2015, Custopharm has received 13 US FDA approvals, with four first-to-market Abbreviated New Drug Application (ANDA) approvals - including one with Competitive Generic Therapy (CGT) designation - and one novel 505(b)(2) NDA approval.  Based in Carlsbad, California, Custopharm has 39 employees.

Transaction highlights and strategic rationale:

Siggi Olafsson, Chief Executive Officer of Hikma, commented:

“This acquisition provides Hikma with an attractive opportunity to further strengthen our US injectables business, by adding an attractive and profitable portfolio of marketed products and an exciting pipeline of future opportunities.  Custopharm is an accomplished operator in the US injectables market with a first-class scientific team and a strong regulatory track record. This acquisition is highly complementary to our existing business and adds high-quality and differentiated growth potential.”

Riad Mishlawi, President of Hikma Injectables, commented:

“With this acquisition, Hikma will have a differentiated US portfolio of close to 130 injectable medicines – a more than fivefold increase over the last decade. Through this broad portfolio and by combining Custopharm’s strong R&D capabilities with our high-quality and extensive manufacturing footprint, we will be in an excellent position to better serve the growing needs of hospitals, doctors and patients. I look forward to welcoming the team at Custopharm and Leucadia to Hikma as we continue to grow and strengthen our Injectables business.”

William C. Larkins, PhD, CEO of Custopharm and Leucadia, added:

“We’re excited to become part of Hikma, a global leader that shares our deep commitment to bringing generic products to market and into the hands of patients who need them. Water Street has been an outstanding partner in working with us to build an exemplary portfolio of complex generic products. We’re looking forward to building on this success.”

Terms of the transaction and financial impact

The up-front consideration of $375 million is on a cash-free, debt-free basis and is being funded from Hikma’s existing cash resources.

The acquisition constitutes a Class 2 transaction pursuant to the UK Listing Rules.  The gross assets of Custopharm at 31 December 2020 were $43 million. Losses before tax in the year to 31 December 2020 were $7.5 million.