Onconetix and Ocuvex Therapeutics announce execution of definitive merger agreement
Onconetix (NASDAQ:ONCO) and privately-held Ocuvex Therapeutics have signed a definitive merger agreement in a significant stock-based transaction. Under the terms, Ocuvex shareholders will receive 90% ownership of the combined company, while Onconetix shareholders will retain 10% of the equity interests.
The merger will combine Ocuvex's pipeline of commercial and late clinical stage ophthalmic assets with Onconetix's public market presence. The combined company's board will consist of seven directors, with Ocuvex designating five and Onconetix appointing two. The transaction is expected to close in Q4 2025, subject to regulatory and stockholder approvals.
Onconetix (NASDAQ:ONCO) e la societ脿 privata Ocuvex Therapeutics hanno firmato un accordo definitivo di fusione in un'importante operazione basata su azioni. Secondo i termini, gli azionisti di Ocuvex riceveranno il 90% della propriet脿 della societ脿 combinata, mentre gli azionisti di Onconetix manterranno il 10% delle quote azionarie.
La fusione unir脿 il portafoglio di prodotti commerciali e di fase clinica avanzata in campo oftalmico di Ocuvex con la presenza sul mercato pubblico di Onconetix. Il consiglio di amministrazione della societ脿 risultante sar脿 composto da sette membri, con Ocuvex che nominer脿 cinque e Onconetix due. L'operazione dovrebbe concludersi nel quarto trimestre 2025, subordinata alle approvazioni regolamentari e degli azionisti.
Onconetix (NASDAQ:ONCO) y la empresa privada Ocuvex Therapeutics han firmado un acuerdo definitivo de fusi贸n en una importante transacci贸n basada en acciones. Seg煤n los t茅rminos, los accionistas de Ocuvex recibir谩n el 90% de la propiedad de la compa帽铆a combinada, mientras que los accionistas de Onconetix conservar谩n el 10% de los intereses accionarios.
La fusi贸n combinar谩 la cartera de productos comerciales y en etapas cl铆nicas avanzadas oft谩lmicas de Ocuvex con la presencia en el mercado p煤blico de Onconetix. El consejo de administraci贸n de la compa帽铆a resultante estar谩 compuesto por siete directores, con Ocuvex designando cinco y Onconetix nombrando dos. Se espera que la transacci贸n se cierre en el cuarto trimestre de 2025, sujeto a aprobaciones regulatorias y de accionistas.
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鞚措矆 頃╇硲鞚� Ocuvex鞚� 靸侅梾鞖� 氚� 頉勱赴 鞛勳儊 雼硠 鞎堦臣 鞛愳偘 韺岇澊頂勲澕鞚戈臣 Onconetix鞚� 瓿店皽 鞁滌灔 臁挫灛毳� 瓴绊暕頃╇媹雼�. 頃╇硲 須岇偓 鞚挫偓須岆姅 7氇呾潣 鞚挫偓搿� 甑劚霅橂┌, Ocuvex臧� 5氇呾潉, Onconetix臧� 2氇呾潉 鞛勲獏頃╇媹雼�. 鞚� 瓯半灅電� 攴滌牅 氚� 欤检＜ 鞀轨澑鞐� 霐半澕 2025雲� 4攵勱赴鞐� 鞕勲霅� 鞓堨爼鞛呺媹雼�.
Onconetix (NASDAQ:ONCO) et la soci茅t茅 priv茅e Ocuvex Therapeutics ont sign茅 un accord d茅finitif de fusion dans le cadre d'une transaction importante bas茅e sur des actions. Selon les termes, les actionnaires d'Ocuvex d茅tiendront 90% de la propri茅t茅 de la soci茅t茅 combin茅e, tandis que les actionnaires d'Onconetix conserveront 10% des int茅r锚ts en actions.
La fusion r茅unira le portefeuille d'actifs commerciaux et en phase clinique avanc茅e en ophtalmologie d'Ocuvex avec la pr茅sence d'Onconetix sur le march茅 public. Le conseil d'administration de la soci茅t茅 issue de la fusion sera compos茅 de sept administrateurs, Ocuvex en d茅signant cinq et Onconetix deux. La transaction devrait 锚tre finalis茅e au quatri猫me trimestre 2025, sous r茅serve des approbations r茅glementaires et des actionnaires.
Onconetix (NASDAQ:ONCO) und das privat gehaltene Unternehmen Ocuvex Therapeutics haben eine endg眉ltige Fusionsvereinbarung in einer bedeutenden aktienbasierten Transaktion unterzeichnet. Gem盲脽 den Bedingungen erhalten die Aktion盲re von Ocuvex 90% Eigentumsanteile am kombinierten Unternehmen, w盲hrend die Aktion盲re von Onconetix 10% der Beteiligungen behalten.
Die Fusion wird die Produktpipeline von Ocuvex mit kommerziellen und sp盲ten klinischen ophthalmologischen Assets mit der B枚rsenpr盲senz von Onconetix verbinden. Der Vorstand des kombinierten Unternehmens wird aus sieben Direktoren bestehen, davon benennt Ocuvex f眉nf und Onconetix zwei. Der Abschluss der Transaktion wird f眉r das 4. Quartal 2025 erwartet, vorbehaltlich beh枚rdlicher und aktion盲rsseitiger Genehmigungen.
- Access to public capital markets for Ocuvex's ophthalmic pipeline development
- Addition of commercial and late clinical stage ophthalmic assets to portfolio
- Strategic combination approved by both companies' boards of directors
- Significant dilution for existing Onconetix shareholders, retaining only 10% ownership
- Loss of board control with only 2 of 7 director positions
- Transaction completion subject to multiple approval conditions and uncertainties
Insights
Onconetix entering reverse merger with Ocuvex, giving up 90% ownership in exchange for Ocuvex's ophthalmic assets pipeline.
This merger represents a significant transformation for Onconetix, essentially functioning as a reverse merger where Ocuvex is gaining control. The structure gives Ocuvex equity holders 90% ownership of the combined entity, leaving original Onconetix shareholders with just 10%. This substantial dilution indicates Onconetix likely has limited current value compared to Ocuvex's pipeline.
The deal's structure is telling - Ocuvex will gain 5 of 7 board seats, cementing their control over the combined company's direction. For Ocuvex, this transaction provides an expedient path to public markets without the traditional IPO process, allowing them to access capital markets to accelerate their ophthalmic therapeutic development.
The merger appears designed to leverage Onconetix's Nasdaq listing as a vehicle for Ocuvex's business. While described as bringing "significant value" to Onconetix stockholders, the extreme ownership dilution suggests Onconetix may be struggling with its own pipeline or business model. The transaction is expected to close in Q4 2025, pending regulatory and shareholder approvals.
This deal structure is common in biotech when a public company with limited prospects acquires a private company with promising assets, effectively transferring the public listing to the private entity while maintaining technical corporate continuity. The value proposition hinges entirely on whether Ocuvex's ophthalmic assets justify the combined valuation.
CINCINNATI, July 16, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Onconetix, Inc. (Nasdaq: ONCO) (鈥淥nconetix鈥� or the 鈥淐ompany鈥�) and Ocuvex Therapeutics, Inc. (鈥淥cuvex鈥�), a privately held biopharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of ophthalmic therapeutic candidates, today announced that they have entered into a definitive merger agreement (the 鈥淢erger Agreement鈥�).
Andrew J. Oakley, Chairman of the Board of Onconetix, stated, 鈥淲e continue to believe that the proposed transaction with Ocuvex, which brings a pipeline of commercial and late clinical stage ophthalmic assets, will bring significant value for our stockholders.鈥�
Anthony W. Amato, Chairman and CEO of Ocuvex, commented, 鈥淕aining access to public capital markets will allow us to accelerate, what we believe to be, important new treatment options for patients and their health care providers. We would look forward to closing the transaction as it will be a major step forward for our company and our stakeholders.鈥�
Terms of Transaction
The Merger Agreement and the transaction contemplated thereby (the 鈥淧roposed Transaction鈥�) has been approved by the boards of directors of both Onconetix and Ocuvex.
Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, Onconetix will acquire all of the issued and outstanding equity interests of Ocuvex and, in consideration for their equity interests, Ocuvex equity holders will receive newly-issued shares of Onconetix common stock equal to
Upon consummation of the Proposed Transaction, the board of directors of the Onconetix will consist of seven directors, with five designated by Ocuvex and two designated by Onconetix.
Completion of the Proposed Transaction, which is anticipated to be in the fourth quarter of this year, will be subject to customary conditions, including the receipt of applicable regulatory, stockholder and third-party approvals. There can be no assurance that the Proposed Transaction will be completed as proposed, or at all.
About Onconetix
Onconetix (Nasdaq: ONCO) is a commercial stage biotechnology company focused on the research, development and commercialization of innovative solutions for men鈥檚 health and oncology. Through our acquisition of Proteomedix, we own Proclarix庐, an in vitro diagnostic test for prostate cancer originally developed by Proteomedix and approved for sale in the European Union (鈥淓U鈥�) under the IVDR, which we anticipate will be marketed in the U.S. as a lab developed test (鈥淟DT鈥�) through our license agreement with Labcorp.
For more information, visit聽.
About Ocuvex
Ocuvex is a privately held biopharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of ophthalmic therapeutic candidates to address highly prevalent diseases in need of new treatment options. Ocuvex鈥檚 lead asset, Omlonti庐 (omidenepag isopropyl ophthalmic solution)
Additional Information and Where to Find It
Onconetix and Ocuvex intend to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the 鈥淪EC鈥�) a registration statement on Form S-4 (as may be amended, the 鈥淩egistration Statement鈥�), which will include a preliminary proxy statement of Onconetix and a prospectus in connection with Proposed Transaction between Onconetix and Ocuvex pursuant to the Merger Agreement. The definitive proxy statement and other relevant documents will be mailed to stockholders of Onconetix as of a record date to be established for voting on the Proposed Transaction. STOCKHOLDERS OF ONCONETIX AND OTHER INTERESTED PARTIES ARE URGED TO READ, WHEN AVAILABLE, THE PRELIMINARY PROXY STATEMENT, AND AMENDMENTS THERETO, AND THE DEFINITIVE PROXY STATEMENT IN CONNECTION WITH ONCONETIX鈥橲 SOLICITATION OF PROXIES FOR THE SPECIAL MEETING OF ITS STOCKHOLDERS TO BE HELD TO APPROVE THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION BECAUSE THESE DOCUMENTS WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT ONCONETIX, OCUVEX AND THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION. Stockholders will also be able to obtain copies of the Registration Statement and the joint proxy statement/prospectus, without charge, once available, on the SEC鈥檚 website at or by directing a request to:聽Onconetix, Inc. 201 E. Fifth Street, Suite 1900
Cincinnati, OH 45202,聽e-mail: .
Participants in the Solicitation
Onconetix, Ocuvex and their respective directors and executive officers may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from the stockholders of Onconetix in connection with the Proposed Transaction.聽Onconetix鈥檚 stockholders and other interested persons may obtain more detailed information regarding the names, affiliations and interests of certain of Onconetix executive officers and directors in the solicitation by reading Onconetix鈥檚 Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2025, as filed with the SEC on June 12, 2025, Onconetix鈥檚 Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024, as filed with the SEC on June 2, 2025, and Onconetix鈥檚 other public filings with the SEC. A list of the names of such directors and executive officers and information regarding their interests in the Proposed Transaction, which may, in some cases, be different from those of stockholders generally, will be set forth in the Registration Statement relating to the Proposed Transaction when it becomes available. These documents can be obtained free of charge from the source indicated above.
Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements in this press release are 鈥渇orward-looking鈥� within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements may be identified by the use of forward-looking words such as 鈥渁nticipate,鈥� 鈥渂elieve,鈥� 鈥渇orecast,鈥� 鈥渆stimate,鈥� 鈥渆xpect,鈥� and 鈥渋ntend,鈥� among others. These forward-looking statements (including, without limitation, the anticipated benefits and opportunities that may be generated by the Proposed Transaction described herein) are based on Onconetix鈥檚 current expectations, and actual results could differ materially. There are a number of factors that could cause actual events to differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements. These factors include, but are not limited to, whether the Proposed Transaction, or any other contemplated transaction, may be completed with different terms, in an untimely manner, or not at all; whether Onconetix will be able to realize the benefits of the Proposed Transaction described herein; Onconetix鈥檚 ability to integrate the assets and commercial operations contemplated to be acquired from Ocuvex into Onconetix鈥檚 business; market and other conditions; risks related to Onconetix鈥檚 ability to commercialize or monetize Omlonti or its other products; risks related to the Onconetix鈥檚 present need for capital to commercially launch Proclarix and have adequate working capital; risks related to Onconetix鈥檚 ability to attract, hire and retain skilled personnel necessary to commercialize and operate Onconetix鈥檚 commercial products; the failure to obtain and maintain the necessary regulatory approvals to market and commercialize Onconetix鈥檚 products; risks related to Onconetix鈥檚 ability to obtain and maintain intellectual property protection for Omlonti or its other products; whether Onconetix will be able to maintain compliance with Nasdaq鈥檚 applicable listing criteria and the effect of a delisting from Nasdaq on the market for Onconetix鈥檚 securities; and Onconetix鈥檚 reliance on third parties, including manufacturers and logistics companies. As with any commercial-stage pharmaceutical product or any product candidate under clinical development, there are significant risks in the development, regulatory approval and commercialization of biotechnology products. Onconetix does not undertake an obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement. Investors should read the risk factors set forth in Onconetix鈥檚 Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2025, as filed with the SEC on June 12, 2025, Onconetix鈥檚 Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed with the SEC on June 2, 2025 and periodic reports filed with the SEC on or after the date thereof. All of Onconetix鈥檚 forward-looking statements are expressly qualified by all such risk factors and other cautionary statements. The information set forth herein speaks only as of the date thereof, and Onconetix assumes no obligation to update or revise these statements unless otherwise required by law.
No Offer or Solicitation
This press release does not and shall not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities of Onconetix or Ocuvex, nor shall there be any offer, solicitation or sale of such securities, if any, in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction.
Investor and Media Contact Information:
Onconetix, Inc.
201 E. Fifth Street, Suite 1900
Cincinnati, OH 45202
Phone: (513) 620-4101
Investor Contact Information:
Onconetix Investor Relations
贰尘补颈濒:听
FAQ
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