The week in pharma: action, reaction and insight – week to April 21, 2023

23 April 2023

By Barbara Obstoj-Cardwell. Editor

M&A news last week featured US pharma giant Merck & Co announcing it plans to acquire Prometheus Biosciences, in a cash deal worth $10.8 billion, aiming to strengthen its immunology pipeline. Also of note, the UK’s GSK, looking to replenish its portfolio, is buying Canadian firm Bellus Health, along with its chronic cough product camlipixant, for $2 billion. In other news, some important research was presented at the American Association of Cancer Research (AAC) by Moderna on mRNA-4157, its neoantigen immunotherapy. Also, US health care giant Johnson & Johnson, always the first big pharma to release quarterly financials, reported first quarter figures much in line with expectations, but its shares fell due to certain other disclosures.

Top pick Prometheus acquired by Merck

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