AEON Biopharma to Become Publicly Listed via Merger with Priveterra Acquisition Corp.; Accelerating Clinical Development of ABP-450

AEON Biopharma, Inc. a private clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of its proprietary botulinum toxin complex ABP-450 injection for therapeutic indications, and Priveterra Acquisition Corp. a special purpose acquisition company announced that they have entered into a definitive business combination agreement. Upon closing of the proposed transaction, the combined company will operate as AEON Biopharma, Inc. and is expected to list on Nasdaq under the ticker symbol 

AEON Uniquely Positioned to Capitalize on Global Therapeutic Neurotoxin Opportunity Since its founding in 2019, AEON Biopharma has been led by Marc Forth, an Allergan plc veteran of 16 years and a former head of the BOTOX® Therapeutic franchise in the United States. AEON has assembled a seasoned team with expertise in neuroscience research, development, regulatory affairs, operations, manufacturing, and commercialization. Its executive team is comprised of industry leaders who have led new drug FDA approvals including multiple indications across multiple neurotoxin products.

The global therapeutic neurotoxin market is currently estimated to be $3.0 billion, of which the U.S. represents approximately 84%, and projected to grow to approximately $4.4 billion in 2027. BOTOX®, marketed by Abbvie, Inc., currently holds approximately 95% U.S. market share for therapeutic indications in the neurotoxin space.1 Other neurotoxin competitors have had success with aesthetic indications in the cash-pay consumer-driven market but have been unable to acquire meaningful market share for therapeutic indications due to the indirect influence of pricing dynamics for aesthetic indications that results in a minimal value proposition for both payors and providers. AEON intends to file a unique BLA for therapeutic indications that would be free of any effects on reimbursement that exist for all other toxin competitors that have both therapeutic and aesthetic indications approved under a single BLA.

Lead product candidate, ABP-450, is the same botulinum toxin approved and marketed for an aesthetic indication. Its 900 kDa molecular weight, similar to the market leader, will enable providers with a seamless transition to ABP-450 for therapeutic uses. Similar to the approved neurotoxins currently in the market, ABP-450’s commercial success does not depend upon patent protection, creating the possibility for an annuity-like construct of continued revenue generation, should ABP-450 be FDA approved.

AEON’s therapeutic-only focus also provides a differentiated business model designed to deliver enhanced value to payors and providers by permitting a traditional pharma pricing model that is not currently available to competitors that also market their products for aesthetic uses approved under a single BLA. The sole focus on therapeutics allows AEON to pursue an original BLA filing that would allow a unique commercial strategy that cannot be employed by other competitors.

About AEON Biopharma
AEON is a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing ABP-450  injection for the treatment of debilitating medical conditions with an initial focus on the neurology and gastroenterology markets. The Company is dedicated to innovation in the rapidly expanding therapeutic botulinum toxin market and believes its therapeutic-only focus will allow AEON to advance safe and effective treatment options to patients, while delivering differentiated economics to payors and physicians. The Company continues to evaluate additional therapeutic indications for development based on a comprehensive product assessment process designed to identify those indications where it believes ABP-450 can attain clinical, regulatory, and commercial success.

About Priveterra Acquisition Corp.
Priveterra Acquisition Corp. is a blank-check company formed for the purpose of effecting a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, reorganization, or similar business combination with one or more businesses in life sciences. Priveterra is sponsored by Robert Palmisano and Priveterra Capital, LLC.