Ipsen to acquire Memo Therapeutics AG

Ipsen, a global biopharmaceutical company listed in Paris and in the U.S., and Memo Therapeutics AG, a late-stage biotech company backed by investors including Ysios Capital, Kurma Partners, Pureos Bioventures, Swisscanto, Vesalius Biocapital and Adjuvant Capital, have entered into a definitive share purchase agreement under which Ipsen has agreed to acquire all issued and outstanding shares of Memo Therapeutics AG. The anticipated acquisition is focused on potravitug, which is a Phase II clinical-stage antibody against the BK polyomavirus.
 
Under the terms of the agreements, shareholders of Memo Therapeutics AG will receive a 200 million EUR payment on a cash-free and debt-free basis at closing of the transaction, and deferred payments contingent upon the achievement of specified development, regulatory approval and sales-based milestones, for a total potential consideration in excess of 700 million EUR. As a condition precedent to closing the transaction, Memo Therapeutics AG’s assets and employees not related to potravitug, will be transferred to a newly incorporated company, Memorises Bio, retained by Memo Therapeutics AG’s shareholders. The transaction is expected to close during Q3 2026, subject to fulfilment of customary closing conditions.
 
Lenz & Staehelin is advising Ipsen in this transaction, jointly with Bredin Prat, Paris. The team is led by Andreas Rötheli, Federico Trabaldo Togna (both Corporate and M&A) and Floran Ponce (Tax) and includes Victor Sellier, Ipek Yüce, Youniss Moussa, Pierrick Sunier and Alexandre Levrat (all Corporate and M&A), Victoria Kinson, Maximilien de Ridder and Nicolas Demole (all Tax), Sevan Antreasyan and Anne-Laure Laplace (both IP), Benoît Merkt and Valentin Muller (both Competition) and Justine Membrez (Employment).