Jazz Pharma's $935M Chimerix Acquisition: Strengthening Rare Cancer Pipeline

Jazz Pharmaceuticals plc (Nasdaq: JAZZ) has announced a definitive agreement to acquire Chimerix (Nasdaq: CMRX) for $8.55 per share in cash, representing a total consideration of approximately $935 million. The transaction, expected to close in the second quarter of 2025, will add dordaviprone, a novel first-in-class small molecule treatment for H3 K27M-mutant diffuse glioma, to Jazz's oncology R&D pipeline.

H3 K27M-mutant diffuse glioma is a rare, high-grade brain tumor that most commonly affects children and young adults. There are no U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved therapies specifically for this patient population, making dordaviprone a promising treatment option with significant unmet need. A New Drug Application (NDA) for accelerated approval of dordaviprone in recurrent H3 K27M-mutant diffuse glioma was recently accepted and granted Priority Review by the FDA, with a target Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA) action date of August 18, 2025.

The acquisition aligns with Jazz's long-term strategy in the rare oncology space, further diversifying its portfolio with a medicine that addresses a significant unmet need and has the potential to rapidly become a standard of care. If approved, dordaviprone could contribute durable revenue beginning in the near-term, creating an additional revenue opportunity for Jazz with patent protection into 2037.

Bruce Cozadd, chairman and chief executive officer of Jazz Pharmaceuticals, stated, "Adding dordaviprone to our oncology R&D pipeline will further diversify our portfolio with a medicine that addresses a significant unmet need with no other FDA-approved therapies and limited treatment options for this patient population. If approved, dordaviprone has the potential to rapidly become a standard of care for a rare oncology disease and also contribute durable revenue beginning in the near-term."

Mike Andriole, President and CEO of Chimerix, added, "We are excited to reach this agreement with Jazz Pharmaceuticals as they bring global scale to broaden our dordaviprone commercial strategy. The transaction, if approved, provides the opportunity to advance access to dordaviprone to reach more patients globally."

The ongoing Phase 3 ACTION trial has the potential to confirm the clinical benefit of dordaviprone in recurrent H3 K27M-mutant diffuse glioma and extend its use to front-line patients, further expanding its potential market and value to Jazz. The acquisition represents a strategic fit that will strengthen Jazz's presence in the rare oncology space and reinforce its commitment to patients with rare diseases with significant unmet needs.