Avadel Pharmaceuticals and Alkermes Reach Acquisition Agreement
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Feb 10 2026
0mins
Should l Buy ALKS?
Avadel Pharmaceuticals (AVDL) announced that the Irish High Court has sanctioned, without modification, the scheme of arrangement between Avadel and its shareholders under Chapter 1 of Part 9 of the Irish Companies Act 2014 pursuant to which Alkermes (ALKS) will acquire the entire issued and to be issued ordinary share capital of Avadel. Completion of the proposed transaction remains subject to the delivery to the Registrar of Companies of a copy of the Court Order sanctioning the Scheme. Assuming that a copy of the Court Order is processed and made available to Avadel by no later than February 11, the Court Order is expected to be delivered to the Registrar of Companies on February 12 and, accordingly, the Scheme is expected to take effect on February 12. Accordingly, February 11 is expected to be the last date on which trading of Avadel Shares on Nasdaq will occur. It is expected that Avadel will request Nasdaq halt trading of the Avadel Shares effective as of 8.00 p.m. on February 11.
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Analyst Views on ALKS
Wall Street analysts forecast ALKS stock price to rise
12 Analyst Rating
10 Buy
2 Hold
0 Sell
Strong Buy
Current: 34.990
Low
37.00
Averages
46.20
High
58.00
Current: 34.990
Low
37.00
Averages
46.20
High
58.00
About ALKS
Alkermes plc is Ireland-based biopharmaceutical company that seeks to develop medicines in the field of neuroscience. The Company has a portfolio of commercial products for the treatment of alcohol dependence, opioid dependence, schizophrenia and bipolar I disorder and a pipeline of clinical and preclinical candidates in development for neurological disorders. It focuses on commercial products, such as LYBALVI, ARISTADA/ARISTADA INITIO and VIVITROL, and advancing the development of pipeline programs focused on neurological disorders. LYBALVI is a once-daily, oral atypical antipsychotic drug for the treatment of adults with schizophrenia and for the treatment of adults with bipolar I disorder, as a maintenance monotherapy or for the acute treatment of manic or mixed episodes, as monotherapy or an adjunct to lithium or valproate. ARISTADA is an extended-release intramuscular injectable suspension for the treatment of schizophrenia. It has a manufacturing facility in Wilmington, Ohio.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
Alkermes Q1 Earnings Announcement Scheduled
- Earnings Release Date: Alkermes is set to announce its Q1 earnings on May 5 before market open, with a consensus EPS estimate of -$0.04, reflecting a significant year-over-year decline of 130.8%, indicating potential profitability challenges for the company.
- Revenue Expectations: The anticipated revenue for Q1 is $361.38 million, representing a 17.9% year-over-year increase, suggesting that despite challenges, Alkermes may still exhibit revenue growth potential, possibly reflecting stable product demand.
- Historical Performance Review: Over the past year, Alkermes has only beaten EPS estimates 25% of the time while exceeding revenue estimates 75% of the time, indicating relative stability in revenue but a need for improvement in profitability.
- Estimate Revision Trends: In the last three months, EPS estimates have seen no upward or downward revisions, while revenue estimates experienced 10 upward and 6 downward revisions, indicating market divergence in expectations for the company's future revenue.
See More
Analysis of XBI ETF Trading Dynamics
- Price Range Fluctuation: The XBI ETF has a 52-week low of $66.66 and a high of $132.09, with the current trading price at $127.30, indicating significant volatility over the past year that may influence investor buying decisions.
- Technical Analysis Tool: Comparing the current share price to the 200-day moving average provides investors with deeper market trend insights, aiding in the formulation of more effective trading strategies to enhance investment returns.
- ETF Unit Trading Mechanism: ETFs trade like stocks, where investors buy and sell 'units' that can be created or destroyed based on demand, offering flexibility that makes ETFs an effective tool for portfolio management.
- Inflows and Outflows Monitoring: Weekly monitoring of changes in shares outstanding helps track notable inflows (new units created) or outflows (old units destroyed), which directly impacts the underlying holdings of the ETF and consequently affects overall market performance.
See More
Alkermes Shares Surge 15% Following Lilly-Centessa Deal
- Clinical Trial Progress: Alkermes' alixorexton demonstrated statistically significant improvements in wakefulness during mid-stage studies compared to placebo, indicating its potential in treating narcolepsy and attracting interest from large pharma companies.
- Positive Market Reaction: Following Eli Lilly's acquisition of Centessa, Alkermes shares surged 15%, reflecting market optimism regarding its prospects in the sleep disorder space, particularly with its developing orexin 2 receptor drug.
- Analyst Outlook: RBC Capital highlighted that the Lilly-Centessa deal underscores large pharma interest in the sleep sector, assigning Alkermes an 'Outperform' rating with a $45 price target, suggesting the stock is undervalued based on its orexin program alone.
- Retail Investor Sentiment Shift: On Stocktwits, retail sentiment around Alkermes stock shifted from 'neutral' to 'bullish' in the past 24 hours, with message volume increasing from 'low' to 'normal' levels, indicating rising interest in the stock.
See More
Alkermes Launches Mental Health Nursing Grant Program
- Grant Program Launch: Alkermes plc announced the opening of applications for the Alkermes Pathways APN Research Awards™ program starting March 16, 2026, designed to support research by psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioners with grants up to $10,000, reflecting the company's ongoing commitment to mental health.
- Eligibility Criteria: Applicants must be licensed psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioners engaged in clinical, academic, or community health settings, holding a doctoral degree or having a qualified co-investigator, ensuring the professionalism and effectiveness of the research.
- Review Process: All applications will be reviewed by an independent committee composed of prominent researchers in the field, ensuring the scientific rigor and clinical relevance of funded projects, thereby enhancing the quality of patient care.
- Industry Impact: This program not only provides significant research opportunities for nurse practitioners but also aims to advance clinical practices related to serious mental illnesses, such as schizophrenia and bipolar I disorder, further solidifying Alkermes' leadership in the mental health sector.
See More
Alkermes 2026 Financial Outlook and Acquisition Progress
- Revenue Growth Expectations: Alkermes anticipates total revenues exceeding $1.73 billion in 2026, with adjusted EBITDA projected between $370 million and $410 million, indicating a strategic decision to diversify income following the Avadel acquisition.
- Strategic Significance of Avadel Acquisition: CEO Richard F. Pops emphasized that the acquisition not only adds a new revenue stream but also accelerates Alkermes' entry into the commercial sleep medicine market, particularly through LUMRYZ and the upcoming launch of alixorexton.
- Strong Product Sales Performance: In 2025, Alkermes reported proprietary product sales of $1.2 billion, a 9% year-over-year increase, with LUMRYZ contributing approximately $279 million in net sales, expected to continue growing in 2026, further solidifying market position.
- Financial Health Status: The company ended 2025 with $1.3 billion in cash and investments, maintaining good financial flexibility to support future growth despite utilizing $775 million for the Avadel acquisition and taking on $1.525 billion in long-term loans.
See More
Alkermes Reports Decline in Q4 Earnings
- Earnings Decline: Alkermes plc reported a fourth-quarter net income of $49.34 million, translating to $0.29 per share, which represents a significant drop from last year's $146.50 million and $0.88 per share, indicating a marked decline in the company's profitability.
- Revenue Decrease: The company's revenue for the fourth quarter was $384.54 million, a 10.6% decrease from $429.98 million last year, reflecting weakened market demand and increased competition.
- Financial Performance Comparison: Alkermes' earnings per share fell by 66.0% compared to the same period last year, which not only impacts investor confidence but may also pressure the stock price and affect the company's future financing capabilities.
- Uncertain Market Outlook: With both earnings and revenue declining, Alkermes faces greater market challenges and may need to reassess its strategy to cope with industry changes and competitive pressures.
See More
Alkermes Q1 Earnings Announcement Scheduled
- Earnings Release Date: Alkermes is set to announce its Q1 earnings on May 5 before market open, with a consensus EPS estimate of -$0.04, reflecting a significant year-over-year decline of 130.8%, indicating potential profitability challenges for the company.
- Revenue Expectations: The anticipated revenue for Q1 is $361.38 million, representing a 17.9% year-over-year increase, suggesting that despite challenges, Alkermes may still exhibit revenue growth potential, possibly reflecting stable product demand.
- Historical Performance Review: Over the past year, Alkermes has only beaten EPS estimates 25% of the time while exceeding revenue estimates 75% of the time, indicating relative stability in revenue but a need for improvement in profitability.
- Estimate Revision Trends: In the last three months, EPS estimates have seen no upward or downward revisions, while revenue estimates experienced 10 upward and 6 downward revisions, indicating market divergence in expectations for the company's future revenue.
See More
Analysis of XBI ETF Trading Dynamics
- Price Range Fluctuation: The XBI ETF has a 52-week low of $66.66 and a high of $132.09, with the current trading price at $127.30, indicating significant volatility over the past year that may influence investor buying decisions.
- Technical Analysis Tool: Comparing the current share price to the 200-day moving average provides investors with deeper market trend insights, aiding in the formulation of more effective trading strategies to enhance investment returns.
- ETF Unit Trading Mechanism: ETFs trade like stocks, where investors buy and sell 'units' that can be created or destroyed based on demand, offering flexibility that makes ETFs an effective tool for portfolio management.
- Inflows and Outflows Monitoring: Weekly monitoring of changes in shares outstanding helps track notable inflows (new units created) or outflows (old units destroyed), which directly impacts the underlying holdings of the ETF and consequently affects overall market performance.
See More
Alkermes Shares Surge 15% Following Lilly-Centessa Deal
- Clinical Trial Progress: Alkermes' alixorexton demonstrated statistically significant improvements in wakefulness during mid-stage studies compared to placebo, indicating its potential in treating narcolepsy and attracting interest from large pharma companies.
- Positive Market Reaction: Following Eli Lilly's acquisition of Centessa, Alkermes shares surged 15%, reflecting market optimism regarding its prospects in the sleep disorder space, particularly with its developing orexin 2 receptor drug.
- Analyst Outlook: RBC Capital highlighted that the Lilly-Centessa deal underscores large pharma interest in the sleep sector, assigning Alkermes an 'Outperform' rating with a $45 price target, suggesting the stock is undervalued based on its orexin program alone.
- Retail Investor Sentiment Shift: On Stocktwits, retail sentiment around Alkermes stock shifted from 'neutral' to 'bullish' in the past 24 hours, with message volume increasing from 'low' to 'normal' levels, indicating rising interest in the stock.
See More
Alkermes Launches Mental Health Nursing Grant Program
- Grant Program Launch: Alkermes plc announced the opening of applications for the Alkermes Pathways APN Research Awards™ program starting March 16, 2026, designed to support research by psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioners with grants up to $10,000, reflecting the company's ongoing commitment to mental health.
- Eligibility Criteria: Applicants must be licensed psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioners engaged in clinical, academic, or community health settings, holding a doctoral degree or having a qualified co-investigator, ensuring the professionalism and effectiveness of the research.
- Review Process: All applications will be reviewed by an independent committee composed of prominent researchers in the field, ensuring the scientific rigor and clinical relevance of funded projects, thereby enhancing the quality of patient care.
- Industry Impact: This program not only provides significant research opportunities for nurse practitioners but also aims to advance clinical practices related to serious mental illnesses, such as schizophrenia and bipolar I disorder, further solidifying Alkermes' leadership in the mental health sector.
See More
Alkermes 2026 Financial Outlook and Acquisition Progress
- Revenue Growth Expectations: Alkermes anticipates total revenues exceeding $1.73 billion in 2026, with adjusted EBITDA projected between $370 million and $410 million, indicating a strategic decision to diversify income following the Avadel acquisition.
- Strategic Significance of Avadel Acquisition: CEO Richard F. Pops emphasized that the acquisition not only adds a new revenue stream but also accelerates Alkermes' entry into the commercial sleep medicine market, particularly through LUMRYZ and the upcoming launch of alixorexton.
- Strong Product Sales Performance: In 2025, Alkermes reported proprietary product sales of $1.2 billion, a 9% year-over-year increase, with LUMRYZ contributing approximately $279 million in net sales, expected to continue growing in 2026, further solidifying market position.
- Financial Health Status: The company ended 2025 with $1.3 billion in cash and investments, maintaining good financial flexibility to support future growth despite utilizing $775 million for the Avadel acquisition and taking on $1.525 billion in long-term loans.
See More
Alkermes Reports Decline in Q4 Earnings
- Earnings Decline: Alkermes plc reported a fourth-quarter net income of $49.34 million, translating to $0.29 per share, which represents a significant drop from last year's $146.50 million and $0.88 per share, indicating a marked decline in the company's profitability.
- Revenue Decrease: The company's revenue for the fourth quarter was $384.54 million, a 10.6% decrease from $429.98 million last year, reflecting weakened market demand and increased competition.
- Financial Performance Comparison: Alkermes' earnings per share fell by 66.0% compared to the same period last year, which not only impacts investor confidence but may also pressure the stock price and affect the company's future financing capabilities.
- Uncertain Market Outlook: With both earnings and revenue declining, Alkermes faces greater market challenges and may need to reassess its strategy to cope with industry changes and competitive pressures.
See More
