Summary of significant transaction
On 14 July 2019 we and Gilead announced that we have entered into a 10-year global research and development collaboration. Through this agreement, Gilead gained exclusive access to our innovative portfolio of compounds, including six molecules currently in clinical trials, more than 20 preclinical programs and a proven drug discovery platform.
The transaction was subject to certain closing conditions, including the expiration or termination of the waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act and receipt of merger control approval from the Austrian Federal Competition Authority. On 23 August 2019 all approvals were obtained and the transaction was closed.
We were entitled to an upfront payment €3,569.8 million ($3.95 billion) and a €960.1 million ($1.1 billion) equity investment from Gilead on closing of the transaction. We will use the proceeds to expand and accelerate our research and development programs. We identified the following three performance obligations: (i) the transfer of an extended license on GLPG1690, (ii) the granting of exclusive access to our drug discovery platform (i.e. the IP, technology, expertise and capabilities) during the collaboration period and exclusive option rights on our current and future clinical programs after Phase 2 outside Europe and (iii) an increased cost share from 20/80 to 50/50 on the global future development activities of filgotinib, until we reach the new joint predetermined level of costs, as a result of the revised license and collaboration agreement. As part of the collaboration, Gilead also received option rights for GLPG1972, a Phase 2b candidate for osteoarthritis, in the United States. We refer to the management judgments and estimates section of this report explaining management's judgments and estimates made.
Gilead will also nominate two individuals to our board of directors. This appointment will be on the agenda of the special general meeting of shareholders that will take place on 22 October 2019.
Terms of the collaboration
We will fund and lead all discovery and development autonomously until the end of Phase 2. After the completion of a qualifying Phase 2 study, Gilead will have the option to acquire a license to the compound outside Europe. If the option is exercised, we and Gilead will co-develop the compound and share costs equally. Gilead will maintain option rights to our programs through the 10-year term of the collaboration and for up to an additional three years thereafter for those programs that have entered clinical development prior to the end of the collaboration term. If GLPG1690 is approved in the United States, Gilead will pay us an additional $325 million milestone fee. For GLPG1972, after the completion of the ongoing Phase 2b study in osteoarthritis, Gilead has the option to pay a $250 million fee to license the compound in the United States. If certain secondary efficacy endpoints are met, Gilead will pay us up to an additional $200 million. Following opt-in on GLPG1972, we are eligible to receive up to $550 million in regulatory and commercial milestones. For all other programs resulting from the collaboration, Gilead will make a $150 million opt-in payment per program and will owe no subsequent milestones. We will receive tiered royalties ranging from 20-24% on net sales of all our products licensed by Gilead in all countries outside Europe as part of the agreement.
Filgotinib collaboration
Under the revised agreement, we will have greater involvement in filgotinib’s global strategy and participate more broadly in the commercialization of the product in Europe, providing the opportunity to build a commercial presence on an accelerated timeline. We and Gilead will co-commercialize filgotinib in France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom and retain the 50/50 profit share in these countries that was part of the original filgotinib license agreement, and under the revised agreement, we will have an expanded commercial role. We will be the lead commercialization party for filgotinib in France, Italy and Spain for rheumatology indications and Gilead will be the lead commercialization party for gastro indications. In Germany and the United Kingdom, Gilead will lead the rheumatology indications and Galapagos will lead the gastro indications. We retain exclusive commercialization responsibility in Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg, where the 50/50 profit share also applies. The companies will share future global development costs for filgotinib equally until a predetermined level, in lieu of the 80/20 cost split provided by the original agreement. Other terms of the original license agreement remain in effect, including the remaining $1.27 billion in total potential milestones and tiered royalties ranging from 20-30% payable in territories outside of Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Spain and the United Kingdom.
Terms of the equity investment
Gilead’s equity investment consists of a subscription for new Galapagos shares at a price of €140.59 per share, representing at 14 July 2019 a 20% premium to Galapagos’ 30-day, volume-weighted average price. This equity subscription took place at closing of the transaction, on 23 August 2019 and increased Gilead‘s stake in Galapagos from approximately 12.3% to 22.04% of the then issued and outstanding shares in Galapagos.
In addition, we intend to seek shareholder approval to issue two warrants allowing Gilead to further increase its ownership of Galapagos to up to 29.9% of the company’s issued and outstanding shares. The agreement also includes a 10-year standstill restricting Gilead’s ability to seek to acquire Galapagos or increase its stake in Galapagos beyond 29.9% of the company’s issued and outstanding shares, subject to limited exceptions. The issuance of the two warrants will be on the agenda of the extraordinary general meeting of shareholders that will take place on 22 October 2019.