Business Development and Licensing Track Record
Michael Atkin has implemented 20 business development and in-/out-licensing transactions, including mergers and acquisitions, selling companies, drugs or technology and supply chain renegotiation. 16 transactions were in life sciences, excluding university licenses. Four transactions were in consumer product sales (six brands), a high tech industrial merger, a chemical divestiture and a defense acquisition. Over $2 billion in value generation, aggregate proceeds and realized value were achieved from these M&As, divestitures and therapeutic partnerships.
In their words.
Michael has impeccable integrity, and is a real team player always seeking a win-win. He builds lasting relationships and collaborations, leveraging his deep business development and licensing expertise to drive strategic growth.
Michael Atkin’s focus on matching the target product profile with urgent unmet medical needs helped us prioritize our lead program.
Michael was instrumental in structuring and negotiating LPOXY's acquisition of Xeno Biosciences' drug development package, including preclinical, clinical and regulatory data, and intellectual property. This preempted years of development work and transformed LPOXY into a registrational clinical trial-ready company with a first-in-class therapy for mass-market antibiotic co-prescription to prevent C. difficile infections, which kill tens of thousands every year.
As I bridged from Princeton University’s engineering group to starting up Inaedis, Michael’s support as mentor was a real leg-up.
licensing transactions
(excluding university licenses)
proceeds and realized value
Seven transactions are summarized below.
Biopharma Strategic M&A and In-/Out-Licenses
Xeno Biologics / LPOXY Therapeutics
- Transaction
- Acquired complete IP portfolio, clinical/preclinical datasets, regulatory dossiers, and API manufacturing know-how from Xeno for a novel gut-targeted C. diff infection preventive. Flipped Xeno's obesity indication to infectious disease prevention via a non-antibiotic approach.
- Consideration
- Equity interest in LPOXY for Xeno shareholders + up to $7.5M in milestone payments.
- Impact Role
- Lead Negotiator & LPOXY Board Chair. Authored and negotiated the term sheet, secured investor alignment and catapulted LPOXY into a clinical-stage entity.
Exogen Neuro / Apoptogen merged into Aegera Therapeutics
- Transaction
- Led a corporate merger of Exogen and Apoptogen start-ups focused on targeted apoptosis induction and prevention.
- Consideration
- Terms not publicly disclosed.
- Impact Role
- Lead Negotiator (CEO, Exogen) & subsequent CEO of Aegera Therapeutics.
Sopharmia / Gladius Pharmaceuticals
- Transaction
- Successfully sold a cross-border infectious disease technology asset developed by Sopharmia to Gladius Pharmaceuticals and its VC syndicate incl. SR One.
- Consideration
- Terms not publicly disclosed; unlocked a concurrent $4M+ financing round.
- Impact Role
- Lead Negotiator & Chairman of Sopharmia; CEO of Gladius.
Therapeutic In-Licensing and Partnering
Idera / Aegera Therapeutics
- Transaction
- In-licensed Idera's proprietary technology platform alongside structural research support to advance the AEG35156 oncology oligonucleotide program.
- Consideration
- Upfront fees, regulatory milestones, and downstream commercial royalties.
- Impact Role
- Lead Negotiator & CEO of Aegera. Managed the strategic partnership directly through IND filing.
Therapeutic Out-Licensing and Partnering
Curis / Aegera Therapeutics
- Transaction
- Out-licensed an adult human skin-derived pluripotent SKP stem cell technology platform after financing development studies at McGill with co-founders Freda Miller, PhD and David Kaplan, PhD.
- Consideration
- Upfront, milestones, royalty. Significant bio-$.
- Impact Role
- Lead Negotiator & CEO of Aegera.
Consumer Product Sales & High Tech Industrial Merger
American Cyanamid Consumer Portfolio Divestiture
- Transaction
- Complete strategic divestiture of a multi-brand global consumer portfolio (Old Spice, Pine-Sol, Combat, Breck, Pierre Cardin and Maxim's de Paris fine fragrances) via separate corporate carve-outs, alongside a South African Management Buyout (MBO).
- Consideration
- Procter & Gamble ($370M); Clorox ($465M); Pierre Cardin rights (estimated at $50M by the New York Times).
- Impact Role
- Corporate Lead. Managed investment banking coordination with Morgan Stanley, worked with marketing teams on presentations, managed data room, served as chief troubleshooting negotiator. Settled two blocking lawsuits, finalized two global fine fragrance licensing agreements with Mr. Pierre Cardin. Successfully negotiated evergreen distribution contract termination with Puerto Rico distributor despite duress. Received Special Recognition award.
Union Carbide (CAPS) / Allied-Signal (UOP)
- Transaction
- 50/50 corporate merger combining Union Carbide's Catalyst, Adsorbent & Process Systems including molecular sieves and adsorbents with Allied-Signal's UOP platinum catalysis and linear alkylbenzene leadership.
- Consideration
- Equalizing payment undisclosed. Firm subsequently valued at $1.65B when Honeywell acquired Union Carbide's 50% stake for $825M.
- Impact Role
- Conducted valuations, due diligence, and implementation. Aligned legal, tax, and treasury groups, and structured a low-9-figure non-recourse credit facility from a major bank syndicate for double the equalizing payment. Offered position in merged firm.
A comprehensive summary deal sheet including 16 life science partnerships and four consumer/industrial M&As may be found here.
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