BRISBANE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
Innoviva, Inc. (the "Company" or "Innoviva") (NASDAQ: INVA) today called
upon shareholders to make the clear choice to vote FOR the Company's
Board of Directors (the "Board"). The Annual Meeting of Stockholders is
scheduled to be held tomorrow, April 20, 2017, but there is still time
for holders to cast their votes on the WHITE proxy card. Only the
latest-dated proxy card counts.
Your Board is delivering value, including a 32% compounded growth rate
in royalties over the last 10 reported quarters. Don't be fooled by
Sarissa's attempts to change a successful strategy.
Your Board is responsive to all of its shareholders and has determined
to undertake a fresh, comprehensive review of all of Innoviva's costs,
including executive and director compensation structure. Furthermore,
your Board has a working strategy for growth that is supported
by our partner, GlaxoSmithKline plc ("GSK"), who has publicly
stated it will cast its vote in favor of your Board.
Key Reasons to cast your vote on the WHITE proxy card:
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Your Board has the right experience: Compare your Board, which is
comprised of 4 current or former CEOs, 2 former CFOs and 6 directors
with relevant industry experience vs. Sarissa's nominees, who are
highly unqualified (one nominee is a film executive) and are
unquestionably tied directly or indirectly to Sarissa.
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Sarissa has a history of destroying value, which is what would happen
if your Company's working strategy with GSK is dismantled. Ask
yourself: Why does Sarissa insist on refuting the partnership both
Innoviva and GSK have explained repeatedly is critical to the
Company's success? This continues despite vocal support for the
partnership from GSK.
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Sarissa is seeking effective control. Sarissa originally launched its
proxy fight by nominating 4 directors for our 7-person Board. Sarissa
is still seeking to oust our CEO and Chairman from the Board and has
publicly asked for the resignation of a fourth director.
The Annual Meeting of Stockholders is tomorrow. We urge our shareholders
to vote on the WHITE proxy card in favor of the current Board to
protect their investment and the long-term value of Innoviva.
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Your Vote Is Important, No Matter How Many or How Few Shares
You Own!
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If you have questions about how to vote your shares, please contact:
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INNISFREE M&A INCORPORATED
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(888) 750-5834 (TOLL-FREE from the U.S. and Canada)
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or (412) 232-3651 (from other locations)
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Banks and Brokers May Call Collect: (212) 750-5833
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REMEMBER:
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Please simply discard any Gold proxy card that you may receive from
Sarissa.
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Returning a Gold proxy card - even if you "withhold" on Sarissa's
nominees -
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will not help your Company, as it will revoke any vote you
previously submitted
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on Innoviva's WHITE proxy card.
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Please visit http://investor.inva.com/proxy.cfm
for more information.
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About Innoviva
Innoviva is focused on bringing compelling new medicines to patients in
areas of unmet need by leveraging its significant expertise in the
development, commercialization and financial management of
bio-pharmaceuticals. Innoviva's portfolio is anchored by the respiratory
assets partnered with Glaxo Group Limited (GSK), including RELVAR®/BREO®
ELLIPTA® and ANORO® ELLIPTA®, which were jointly developed by Innoviva
and GSK. Under the agreement with GSK, Innoviva is eligible to receive
associated royalty revenues from RELVAR®/BREO® ELLIPTA®, ANORO®
ELLIPTA®. In addition, Innoviva retains a 15 percent economic interest
in future payments made by GSK for earlier-stage programs partnered with
Theravance BioPharma, Inc., including the closed triple combination
therapy for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). For more
information, please visit Innoviva's website at www.inva.com.
ANORO®, RELVAR®, BREO® and ELLIPTA® are trademarks of the
GlaxoSmithKline group of companies.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains certain "forward-looking" statements as that
term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995
regarding, among other things, statements relating to goals, plans,
objectives and future events, including expected cost savings. Innoviva
intends such forward-looking statements to be covered by the safe harbor
provisions for forward-looking statements contained in Section 21E of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Private Securities
Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The words "anticipate", "expect", "goal",
"intend", "objective", "opportunity", "plan", "potential", "target" and
similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking
statements. Such forward-looking statements involve substantial risks,
uncertainties and assumptions. These statements are based on the current
estimates and assumptions of the management of Innoviva as of the date
of this press release and are subject to risks, uncertainties, changes
in circumstances, assumptions and other factors that may cause the
actual results of Innoviva to be materially different from those
reflected in the forward-looking statements. Important factors that
could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by
such forward-looking statements include, among others, risks related to:
expected cost savings, lower than expected future royalty revenue from
respiratory products partnered with GSK, the commercialization of
RELVAR®/BREO® ELLIPTA® and ANORO® ELLIPTA® in the jurisdictions in which
these products have been approved; the strategies, plans and objectives
of Innoviva (including Innoviva's growth strategy and corporate
development initiatives beyond the existing respiratory portfolio); the
timing, manner, amount and planned growth of anticipated potential
capital returns to shareholders (including, without limitation,
statements regarding Innoviva's expectations of future purchases under
its capital return programs and future cash dividends); the status and
timing of clinical studies, data analysis and communication of results;
the potential benefits and mechanisms of action of product candidates;
expectations for product candidates through development and
commercialization; the timing of regulatory approval of product
candidates; and projections of revenue, expenses and other financial
items. Other risks affecting Innoviva are described under the headings
"Risk Factors" and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial
Condition and Results of Operations" contained in Innoviva's Annual
Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016, which is on
file with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") and available
on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov.
Additional factors may be described in those sections of Innoviva's
Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2017, to
be filed with the SEC in the second quarter of 2017. In addition to the
risks described above and in Innoviva's other filings with the SEC,
other unknown or unpredictable factors also could affect Innoviva's
results. Past performance is not necessarily indicative of future
results. No forward-looking statements can be guaranteed and actual
results may differ materially from such statements. Given these
uncertainties, you should not place undue reliance on these
forward-looking statements. The information in this press release is
provided only as of the date hereof, and Innoviva assumes no obligation
to update its forward-looking statements on account of new information,
future events or otherwise, except as required by law.
View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170419005837/en/
Investor Contact:
Innoviva, Inc.
Eric d'Esparbes
Senior
Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
650-238-9640
investor.relations@inva.com
or
Media
Contacts:
Abernathy MacGregor
Patrick Tucker or Ina
McGuinness
212-371-5999 or 213-630-6550
Source: Innoviva, Inc.
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