Dova Pharma's bet on Eisai castoff spells gold as Sobi spends millions to acquire it

In 2016, Dova Pharmaceuticals paid Japan’s Eisai a paltry $5 million upfront for the rights to the Phase III-ready avatrombopag. The following year, the Durham, North Carolina-based company made its public debut with a $75 million IPO, and by 2018 the drug — branded as Doptelet — secured FDA approval. Dova’s bet paid off handsomely — on Monday, the company unveiled Swedish Orphan Biovitrum AB was acquiring its shares in a deal worth up to a robust $915 million.