aibioLantheus completes Life Molecular Imaging acquisition with $350 million upfront payment
Tickers LNTH
Lantheus closed the acquisition on July 21, 2025 and named Dr. Ludger Dinkelborg Head of Research and Development, effective August 1, 2025. The deal adds the Alzheimer's PET imaging agent Neuraceq.
Key facts
- Company
- Lantheus Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: LNTH)
- News type
- Mergers
- Primary source
- Lantheus Holdings, Inc. Form 8-K filed July 22, 2025 (SEC EDGAR)
Lantheus Holdings, Inc. said on July 22, 2025 that it completed its acquisition of Life Molecular Imaging Limited on July 21, 2025. At closing, the purchaser, Lantheus Radiopharmaceuticals UK Limited, paid the seller an upfront cash payment of $350 million, after applicable purchase price adjustments, for all of Life Molecular's outstanding share capital. The company also named Dr. Ludger Dinkelborg its Head of Research and Development. Lantheus disclosed both items in a Form 8-K.
The deal and the parties
The acquisition was previously announced by Lantheus. Under a Sale and Purchase Agreement, Lantheus Medical Imaging, Inc., a Delaware corporation and subsidiary of Lantheus, and Lantheus Radiopharmaceuticals UK Limited, a company incorporated under the laws of England, called the Purchaser in the filing, agreed to buy the entire issued share capital of Life Molecular. The agreement was made with Life Medical Group Limited, a company incorporated under the laws of England, called the Seller in the filing, and Life Healthcare Group Holdings Limited, a public limited company incorporated in South Africa. The filing says the parties completed the transaction on July 21, 2025.
The agreement itself was filed as Exhibit 10.37 to Lantheus's annual report on Form 10-K for 2024, filed February 26, 2025. The 10-K described the deal while it was pending. It said the definitive agreement provided for an upfront payment and for further potential payments tied to the business's performance. An earn-out is a payment the buyer makes later if the acquired business reaches agreed targets. The 8-K reports the upfront payment made at closing.
The 10-K said Life Molecular is dedicated to advancing novel PET radiopharmaceutical diagnostics. It said the acquisition would enable Lantheus to establish a commercial franchise in Alzheimer's disease.
What Lantheus gets
The press release says Lantheus gains Neuraceq (florbetaben F18 injection), a globally approved F-18 PET imaging agent used to detect beta-amyloid plaques in patients evaluated for Alzheimer's disease. A footnote says Neuraceq is approved in the United States, European Union, Canada, South Korea, China and Japan, and the release gives the FDA approval date as 23 June 2025 for the indication it describes. The release also says the transaction gives Lantheus an Alzheimer's disease radiodiagnostic commercial infrastructure, advanced R&D capabilities and an established international footprint.
The new Head of Research and Development
Under Item 7.01, Lantheus said it issued a press release on July 22, 2025 announcing the completion of the Transaction and the appointment of Dr. Ludger Dinkelborg as Head of Research and Development, effective August 1, 2025. The release says he was formerly CEO and Managing Director of Life Molecular Imaging. He will lead and oversee Clinical Development, Regulatory Affairs, Clinical Operations, Program Management, and AI/Biomarkers Solutions, and will report directly to the Chief Executive Officer. Brian Markison, CEO of Lantheus, welcomed Dr. Dinkelborg and the Life Molecular team in the release.
The filing says the information under Item 7.01 and Exhibit 99.1 is furnished and not deemed "filed" for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
Advisers
According to the press release, RMB, a division of FirstRand Bank Limited, acted as financial advisor to Life Healthcare, with A&O Shearman LLP and Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr Inc. as legal advisors. Morgan Stanley served as financial advisor to Lantheus. Covington & Burling LLP, Ropes & Gray LLP and Bowmans acted as its legal advisors, and Ernst & Young LLP provided financial and tax advisory services.
About Lantheus
The 10-K describes Lantheus as a radiopharmaceutical-focused company that classifies its products as Radiopharmaceutical Oncology, Precision Diagnostics, and Strategic Partnerships and Other Revenue. Its executive offices are in Bedford, Massachusetts. The 10-K reported net income of $312,442 thousand for 2024, against $326,661 thousand for 2023. The 8-K and press release do not state how Lantheus funded the $350 million or the size of any later performance payments. Chief Administrative Officer and General Counsel Daniel Niedzwiecki signed the Form 8-K.