Overview
McDermott Will & Emery represented Valinor Pharma, LLC (Valinor), a pharmaceutical company focused on the commercialization of medicines, in a cross-border sale to Grünenthal, a German-based global leader in pain management and related diseases. The total deal value is approximately $250 million inclusive of all royalty obligations and includes Valinor’s product Movantik®, an oral treatment of opioid-induced constipation in adult patients with chronic non-cancer pain, which achieved over $200 million in gross U.S. sales in 2023.
The McDermott team was led by Kristian Werling and included John Zukin, Dane Christensen, Marisa Montoya, Kate Vera, Lauren Sawyer, Gregory Heltzer, Ty Carson, Scott Kenkel, Alex Farr, Jamie Ravitz, Marissa Hill Daley, Jim Nicholas and Caitlin Harrington.
Read Grünenthal’s announcement of the transaction here.
This is McDermott’s second specialty pharmaceuticals deal in the last year, following the Firm’s representation of Vanda Pharmaceuticals Inc. in its acquisition of PONVORY®, a treatment for adults with relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (RMS), from Johnson & Johnson in December 2023.
McDermott’s global Life Sciences Group operates as a cross-border, interdisciplinary team, drawing upon lawyers from the top-ranked healthcare law practice to work at the juncture of health, technology and life sciences. Among th4e team’s recent notable work, after three years of hard-fought litigation over foundational cancer testing patents, McDermott secured back-to-back wins on behalf of Natera, a global leader in cell-free DNA testing, and a Delaware jury awarded the company $19.35 million. The team also recently represented WindRose Health Investors in the acquisition of SubjectWell, the patient access marketplace that connects people with health conditions to care options.
About McDermott
McDermott Will & Emery partners with leaders around the world to fuel missions, knock down barriers and shape markets. Our team works seamlessly across practices and industries to deliver highly effective solutions that propel success. More than 1,400 lawyers strong, we bring our personal passion and legal prowess to bear in every matter for our clients and the people they serve.
