UCB Pharma Acquires Beryllium Discovery

Outcome Capital Announces UCB Pharma Has Acquired Beryllium Discovery

June 6, 2017, Boston, MA.  Outcome Capital, an investment banking firm that serves middle market growth companies in the life science and technology segments, today announced that UCB Pharma, Ltd. has acquired privately held Beryllium Discovery, LLC.  Beryllium, a specialized drug discovery contract research organization (CRO), provides research services and engages in collaborations with leading pharmaceutical, innovative biotechnology, and academic partners based on its innovative drug discovery platform. Outcome Capital served as the exclusive strategic and financial advisor to Beryllium for the transaction.

Using a biology-first, target-centric approach, Beryllium has developed deep expertise in protein engineering, expression and purification, as well as functional biology and protein structure designed to find unique therapeutic drugs. The company has had a long and successful partnership with UCB, a developer of treatments for severe neurological and immunological diseases, which previously acquired a minority stake in Beryllium.

Dr. Oded Ben-Joseph, Managing Director of Outcome Capital, commented: “Beryllium is a best-in-class and truly innovative CRO, and we congratulate them on this achievement. Through its expertise in drug discovery, the organization has been instrumental in bringing multiple paradigm-shifting drugs to market or to advanced clinical stages. With these two companies’ long history of successful collaboration, this transaction was an excellent match for our client. It is also a great strategic fit for UCB, and is expected to help grow their pipeline.”

In addition to its drug discovery achievements, Beryllium’s scientific team has published more than 150 high-profile journal articles and contributed more than 1% of all structures deposited in the public protein data bank.

Johan Pontin, CEO of Beryllium Discovery commented: “We are proud of our scientific achievements, and this deal is the ultimate recognition of our success. Our talented partners at UCB are in a great position to further build Beryllium’s platform and use it to bring more innovation to their high-value discovery program. This is also a great outcome for all Beryllium stakeholders, and I was very impressed with Outcome Capital’s ability to make it happen.”

About Beryllium Discovery

 Beryllium’s mission is to provide best-in-class lead discovery solutions.  The company’s proven teams of drug discovery professionals are passionate about unlocking the therapeutic potential of both genetically- and clinically-validated drug targets, and in developing new therapeutic modalities. Beryllium works in partnership with pharma and biotech clients to address the most difficult scientific and business challenges facing drug discovery, and to ultimately enable transformational health care outcomes.

About Outcome Capital

Outcome Capital is a unique investment banking firm that provides middle-market growth companies in the life sciences, healthcare services and technology markets with a value-added client-centric approach to merger, acquisition and corporate finance advisory services. The firm utilizes its proven approach to value enhancement by assisting boards and management teams in navigating both the financial and strategic markets and in implementing the best path for success. Outcome Capital’s strength stems from its unique ability to draw on its wide range of operational, strategic and transactional experience, its expertise across the value chain, and its broad industry relationships. The professionals at Outcome Capital take pride in their ability to help their clients to make well-informed strategic decisions and recognize the full value created by their vision. For more information, visit: outcomecapital.wpengine.com.