Grünenthal, a global leader in pain management and related diseases, has announced the acquisition of US-based pharmaceutical company Valinor Pharma, LLC (“Valinor”) and its product Movantik® (naloxegol). The deal, with a total value of approximately $250 million inclusive of all royalty obligations, further strengthens Grünenthal’s footprint in the United States and makes it the global owner of Movantik® / Moventig®.
Movantik® is an oral treatment for opioid-induced constipation (OIC) in adult patients with chronic non-cancer pain. It is a perfect fit for Grünenthal’s existing customer base and complementary product portfolio, according to CEO Gabriel Baertschi. “The acquisition of Valinor Pharma strengthens our footprint in the United States, the most important growth market for Grünenthal,” he stated.
Marv Kelly, President of Grünenthal US, also expressed excitement about the acquisition, stating, “We are excited to welcome Valinor and expand our portfolio offering to pain specialists with Movantik.” The product has already seen success in the United States, with gross sales reaching over $200 million in 2023.
Grünenthal acquired the product in Europe (branded Moventig® outside of the U.S.) in 2023 as part of a joint venture with Kyowa-Kirin. However, this acquisition makes Grünenthal the worldwide owner of the brand (excluding Canada).
The acquisition of Valinor is part of Grünenthal’s strategy to acquire established medicines and expand its portfolio. Since 2017, the company has invested over €2 billion in successful M&A transactions, including the acquisition of NebidoTM, the European rights to CrestorTM and NexiumTM, as well as the global rights to VimovoTM (excluding the U.S. and Japan), QutenzaTM, and ZomigTM (excluding Japan). In 2023, Grünenthal also established Grünenthal Meds, a joint venture with Kyowa Kirin International, which manages a portfolio of 13 brands primarily focused on pain management.
Grünenthal is a science-based, fully integrated pharmaceutical company with a long track record of bringing innovative treatments and state-of-the-art technologies to patients worldwide. Its purpose is to change lives for the better, and it has a global presence with affiliates in 27 countries across Europe, Latin America, and the U.S. In 2023, the company employed around 4,400 people and achieved revenues of €1.8 billion.
For more information, visit www.grunenthal.com or follow Grünenthal on LinkedIn and Instagram.
Derick is an experienced reporter having held multiple senior roles for large publishers across Europe. Specialist subjects include small business and financial emerging markets.