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Alkermes enters sleep medicine market through Avadel acquisition

Alkermes enters sleep medicine market through Avadel acquisition

Money Moves
By Newzino Staff |

Irish drugmaker gains LUMRYZ narcolepsy treatment and pipeline access after winning bidding war with Lundbeck

February 12th, 2026: Alkermes Completes Avadel Acquisition

Overview

Alkermes, a neuroscience-focused pharmaceutical company, completed its $2.37 billion acquisition of Avadel Pharmaceuticals on February 12, 2026, gaining immediate entry into the sleep medicine market. The deal adds LUMRYZ, the only once-nightly narcolepsy treatment, to Alkermes' portfolio alongside an emerging pipeline of orexin-based therapies that could address sleep disorders affecting millions of underdiagnosed patients.

The acquisition came after Alkermes outmaneuvered Danish pharma company Lundbeck in a month-long bidding war. Avadel shareholders received $21 per share plus contingent value rights tied to future regulatory approvals, ending Avadel's six-year run as an independent company. The deal positions Alkermes to compete directly with Jazz Pharmaceuticals, whose Xyrem and Xywav products dominate the $4 billion narcolepsy market.

Key Indicators

$2.37B
Total Deal Value
Includes $21 per share cash plus contingent value rights worth up to $1.50 per share
$169M
LUMRYZ 2024 Revenue
Full-year net product revenue, up from $28 million in 2023, representing 500% growth
2,500
LUMRYZ Patients
Patients on LUMRYZ as of December 2024, up 275% from 900 patients one year earlier
~200,000
US Narcolepsy Patients
Estimated Americans with narcolepsy, though roughly half remain undiagnosed

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People Involved

Richard F. Pops
Richard F. Pops
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Alkermes (Leading combined company's sleep medicine expansion)
Gregory J. Divis
Gregory J. Divis
Former Chief Executive Officer, Avadel Pharmaceuticals (Role in combined company not disclosed)

Organizations Involved

Alkermes plc
Alkermes plc
Biopharmaceutical Company
Status: Acquirer, now owns Avadel and LUMRYZ

Alkermes develops medicines for psychiatric and neurological disorders, with approved treatments for schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and opioid and alcohol dependence.

Avadel Pharmaceuticals plc
Avadel Pharmaceuticals plc
Biopharmaceutical Company (Acquired)
Status: Acquired by Alkermes, delisted from Nasdaq

Avadel developed LUMRYZ, the first once-nightly narcolepsy treatment, using proprietary extended-release drug delivery technology.

Jazz Pharmaceuticals plc
Jazz Pharmaceuticals plc
Biopharmaceutical Company
Status: Market leader in narcolepsy treatments, competitor to Alkermes

Jazz Pharmaceuticals dominates the narcolepsy market with Xyrem and Xywav, which together generated nearly $2 billion in 2024 sales.

H. Lundbeck A/S
H. Lundbeck A/S
Biopharmaceutical Company
Status: Lost bidding war for Avadel

Danish pharmaceutical company specializing in brain diseases, which made an unsolicited $2.4 billion bid for Avadel before withdrawing.

Timeline

  1. Alkermes Completes Avadel Acquisition

    M&A

    Irish High Court approves the scheme of arrangement. Alkermes completes the acquisition using $775 million in cash and $1.525 billion in term loans due 2031. Avadel shares delisted from Nasdaq.

  2. Alixorexton Receives Breakthrough Therapy Designation

    Regulatory

    FDA grants Breakthrough Therapy designation to Alkermes' alixorexton for narcolepsy type 1, strengthening the company's sleep medicine pipeline ahead of the Avadel deal closing.

  3. Lundbeck Withdraws from Bidding

    M&A

    Lundbeck announces it will not increase its offer, ending the bidding war and clearing the path for Alkermes to complete the acquisition.

  4. Alkermes Raises Offer to $2.37 Billion

    M&A

    Alkermes increases its bid to $21 per share plus a $1.50 contingent value right tied to FDA approval of LUMRYZ for idiopathic hypersomnia by 2028. Avadel board determines this offer superior to Lundbeck's proposal.

  5. Lundbeck Submits Unsolicited Bid

    M&A

    Danish pharmaceutical company Lundbeck disrupts the deal with an unsolicited $2.4 billion offer, proposing $21 per share plus a $2 contingent value right.

  6. Alkermes Announces Agreement to Acquire Avadel

    M&A

    Alkermes announces definitive agreement to acquire Avadel for up to $2.1 billion, offering $18.50 per share plus a $1.50 contingent value right.

  7. LUMRYZ Approved for Pediatric Patients

    Regulatory

    FDA expands LUMRYZ approval to include children aged 7 and older with narcolepsy, granting orphan drug exclusivity through 2031.

  8. FDA Approves LUMRYZ for Adults

    Regulatory

    Avadel receives FDA approval for LUMRYZ as the first and only once-at-bedtime oxybate treatment for cataplexy or excessive daytime sleepiness in adults with narcolepsy.

Scenarios

1

Alkermes Becomes Major Sleep Medicine Player with LUMRYZ Growth and Alixorexton Approval

Discussed by: BioPharma Dive, Fierce Pharma, Wall Street analysts covering specialty pharma

LUMRYZ continues its rapid growth trajectory, reaching $400-500 million in annual sales by 2028. Alixorexton completes Phase 3 trials and receives FDA approval for narcolepsy type 1, giving Alkermes a differentiated portfolio that competes effectively with Jazz Pharmaceuticals. The company's combined sleep medicine franchise reaches $1 billion in annual revenue, validating the acquisition premium.

2

Jazz Pharmaceuticals Maintains Dominance Despite New Competition

Discussed by: Morningstar, pharmaceutical market analysts, sleep medicine specialists

Jazz Pharmaceuticals' entrenched relationships with sleep specialists and payers limit LUMRYZ's market penetration. Xywav's orphan drug exclusivity and Jazz's aggressive defense of market share prevent Alkermes from gaining significant ground. LUMRYZ growth plateaus around $300 million annually, below projections that justified the acquisition price.

3

Alixorexton Fails in Phase 3, Limiting Alkermes' Sleep Medicine Ambitions

Discussed by: Clinical trial analysts, biotech investment newsletters

Alixorexton does not replicate Phase 2 results in larger Phase 3 trials, or encounters safety signals that delay or prevent approval. Without a next-generation product, Alkermes remains dependent on LUMRYZ, a follow-on product in a market controlled by Jazz. The contingent value right expires unpaid if LUMRYZ fails to gain idiopathic hypersomnia approval.

4

Additional Consolidation Reshapes Narcolepsy Market

Discussed by: M&A advisors, pharmaceutical industry analysts

The Alkermes-Avadel deal triggers further consolidation as larger pharmaceutical companies seek positions in the growing sleep medicine market. Jazz Pharmaceuticals becomes an acquisition target, or acquires another sleep medicine company to defend its position. The competitive landscape shifts significantly within 2-3 years.

Historical Context

Jazz Pharmaceuticals Acquires Orphan Medical (2005)

July 2005

What Happened

Jazz Pharmaceuticals acquired Orphan Medical for approximately $123 million, gaining Xyrem (sodium oxybate), a treatment for narcolepsy cataplexy. At the time, Xyrem was a niche product treating a rare condition with limited commercial potential.

Outcome

Short Term

Jazz gained an FDA-approved narcolepsy treatment and established its presence in sleep medicine.

Long Term

Xyrem became a blockbuster, reaching $1.7 billion in peak annual sales by 2020. The deal transformed Jazz from a struggling startup into a major specialty pharmaceutical company.

Why It's Relevant Today

Alkermes is following a similar playbook—acquiring a commercial-stage narcolepsy product (LUMRYZ) and combining it with pipeline assets. The Jazz precedent suggests significant long-term value creation is possible in this market.

AbbVie-Allergan Merger Creates Aesthetics and Neuroscience Giant (2020)

May 2020

What Happened

AbbVie completed its $63 billion acquisition of Allergan, combining AbbVie's immunology portfolio with Allergan's neuroscience, aesthetics, and eye care businesses. The deal faced regulatory scrutiny requiring divestitures and took over a year to complete.

Outcome

Short Term

AbbVie gained Botox, Vraylar, and other neuroscience products, diversifying beyond its flagship Humira.

Long Term

The combined company became a dominant force in neuroscience and aesthetics, validating large-scale consolidation in specialty pharmaceuticals.

Why It's Relevant Today

Both deals involve a larger company acquiring a smaller one to enter or expand in neuroscience. The AbbVie-Allergan deal shows how strategic acquisitions can create significant value when combined with existing capabilities and distribution.

Axsome Therapeutics Acquires Sunosi from Jazz Pharmaceuticals (2022)

March 2022

What Happened

Axsome Therapeutics acquired Sunosi (solriamfetol), a wakefulness-promoting agent for narcolepsy and sleep apnea, from Jazz Pharmaceuticals for up to $565 million. Jazz divested the product to focus on its oxybate franchise.

Outcome

Short Term

Axsome gained an approved sleep medicine product complementing its CNS pipeline.

Long Term

The deal demonstrated that Jazz was willing to shed non-core sleep assets while defending its oxybate market position.

Why It's Relevant Today

The Sunosi divestiture showed Jazz's strategic focus on oxybate products. Alkermes now enters this market with LUMRYZ, a direct oxybate competitor, testing whether Jazz can maintain dominance against a well-capitalized challenger.

10 Sources:
+4
Business Wire BioSpace Fierce Pharma BioPharma Dive Alkermes Investor Relations Avadel Investor Relations Pharmaceutical Technology Fierce Pharma Fierce Pharma Alkermes Investor Relations