Edge Therapeutics, Inc. and PDS Biotechnology Corporation announced that their respective boards of directors have approved a definitive merger agreement. 

The merger is expected to create a combined company with a growing pipeline of next generation cancer immunotherapies based on the proprietary, multi-functional Versamune® technology platform, and sufficient cash to fund operations into 2020.

"We believe that the proposed merger of PDS Biotechnology and Edge Therapeutics will create a combined company that can generate shareholder value through our proprietary Versamune® platform and a promising pipeline of next generation immunotherapies targeting several cancer markets including the multi-billion-dollar HPV-induced cancer market," said Frank K. Bedu-Addo, Ph.D., Co-Founder, president and chief executive officer of PDS. "We expect that the combined company will have the financial resources and experienced leadership to accomplish our key near-term objectives: first, to initiate multiple late-stage clinical studies for our lead product candidate PDS0101; and second, to further advance our preclinical programs toward the clinic."
 

"Since announcing our plans to seek strategic alternatives for Edge Therapeutics, our priority has been to identify a merger candidate that we believe has the potential to continue our mission to help patients and to provide meaningful value to our stockholders," said Brian A. Leuthner, Edge’s president and chief executive officer. "Following a rigorous evaluation and diligence process, the Edge Board of Directors has concluded that a merger with PDS Biotechnology, with a clinical-stage product candidate that has demonstrated the potential in patients to address important limitations of current immuno-oncology approaches, a growing development pipeline, and a novel next generation technology, offers an excellent opportunity to create such value. We believe that PDS represents an attractive merger partner for Edge as PDS prepares to advance multiple late-stage clinical programs through key milestones in 2019 and beyond."