ViroPharma To Acquire Lev Pharm...( - Acquisition Adds Late Stage Product...)

- Acquisition Adds Late Stage Product Targeting Life-threatening Hereditary

Angioedema Disease with Limited Treatment Options - - Company to Host Conference Call at 10:30 A.M. Eastern Today to Discuss

Transaction -

EXTON, Pa., July 15 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- ViroPharma Incorporated (Nasdaq: VPHM) and Lev Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (OTC Bulletin Board: LEVP) today announced that the companies have signed a definitive merger agreement under which ViroPharma will acquire Lev, a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing therapeutic products for the treatment of inflammatory diseases, for $442.9 million of upfront consideration, or $2.75 per Lev share, comprised of $2.25 per share in cash and $0.50 per share in ViroPharma common stock (subject to a collar). Contingent consideration of up to $1.00 per share may be paid on achievement of certain regulatory and commercial milestones. The transaction with a potential net aggregate value of up to $617.5 million has been unanimously approved by the boards of directors of both companies. The companies expect the transaction to be completed by the end of 2008. In addition, concurrently with the execution of the merger agreement, ViroPharma purchased $20 million of Lev common stock.

The acquisition of Lev Pharmaceuticals further enhances ViroPharma's pipeline with Cinryze(TM) (C1 inhibitor (human)), which is currently under regulatory review for approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration as a replacement therapy for patients with hereditary angioedema (HAE), also known as C1 esterase inhibitor (C1-INH) deficiency. The use of replacement therapy in patients with C1-INH deficiency is supported by more than 35 years o
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