Celgene, headquartered in Summit, N.J., has agreed to acquire Receptos, a biopharmaceutical company based in San Diego. Celgene will pay $232 per share in cash, or a total of approximately $7.2 billion, net of cash acquired.

The acquisition of Receptos significantly enhances Celgene’s Inflammation & Immunology (I&I) portfolio, further diversifies the company’s revenue beginning in 2019 and beyond, and builds upon Celgene’s growing experience in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The transaction adds Ozanimod, a novel, potential best-in-class, oral, once-daily, selective sphingosine 1-phosphate 1 and 5 receptor modulator (S1P) to Celgene’s pipeline of potential disease-altering medicines and investigational compounds.

Based on clinical studies, Ozanimod demonstrated several areas of potential advantage over existing oral therapies for the treatment of ulcerative colitis (UC) and relapsing multiple sclerosis (RMS), including its cardiac, hepatotoxicity and lymphocyte recovery profile. The phase III True North trial in UC currently is underway with data expected in 2018. The phase III Radiance and Sunbeam RMS trials are ongoing and data are expected in the first half of 2017 to support a RMS approval in 2018. Additionally, Ozanimod is positioned to potentially become the first S1P receptor modulator to be approved for IBD.

Celgene will acquire all of the outstanding shares of common stock of Receptos through a tender offer, followed by a second-step merger. In the tender offer, Celgene, through a wholly-owned subsidiary, will offer to purchase all of the outstanding shares of common stock of Receptos for $232 per share in cash, or an aggregate of approximately $7.2 billion, net of cash acquired. The transaction has been approved by the boards of directors of both companies and is subject to customary closing conditions, including the tender of at least a majority of outstanding shares of Receptos common stock and expiration of the applicable waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976. The transaction is anticipated to close in 2015.

Celgene will acquire all remaining shares of Receptos common stock that are not tendered in the tender offer through a second-step merger, which will be completed shortly following the tender offer. Celgene expects to fund the transaction through a combination of existing cash and new debt. The resulting capital structure is consistent with Celgene’s financial strategy and investment grade profile. This acquisition maintains flexibility for additional value creating transactions and share buyback.