Pharma & Biotech Mergers & Acquisitions News
Pharmaceutical
Full mergers and acquisitions in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology in 2024 fluctuated throughout the year with hardly any in some months and a significant number in other. But one thing was clear – buyers were shying away from big bets on commercially ready medicines in favor of earlier stage drug developers. 3 January 2025
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Pharmaceutical
French drugmaker Ipsen (Euronext: IPN) says that its partner, USA-based Inspiration Biopharmaceuticals, has initiated treatment of patients in the first of two phase III pivotal clinical studies of OBI-1, an intravenous recombinant porcine factor VIII (FVIII) product, for the treatment of acquired hemophilia A, a rare, though potentially life-threatening bleeding disorder. 22 November 2010
Pharmaceutical
German drugs and crop sciences major Bayer (BAY: DE) has announced plans to make annual cost savings of some 800 million euros ($1.09 billion) starting in 2013, which will also worldwide job cuts of about 4,500 by end-2012, tough other posts will be created. The Leverkusen-headquartered company plans to invest its resources even more systematically in growing the company and enhancing its innovative capability. 19 November 2010
Pharmaceutical
Having earlier this month bought investment firm Wendel's 45.86% equity interest in Stallergenes (GENP: PA) for 59 euros a share, or a total of 358.8 million euros ($491.6 million), Ares Life Sciences says it now plans to acquire the remainder of the French biopharmaceutical company at the same price. 18 November 2010
Pharmaceutical
Some 30 years after they pulled out of the Brazil, western pharmaceutical companies are rushing back to expand and make acquisitions, just as domestic groups begin to consolidate and spread abroad, writes Andrew Jack in the UK's Financial Times, which yesterday published a supplement on the country, which has just voted in a new President. 16 November 2010
Pharmaceutical
Strasbourg, France-based NovAliX said this morning that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire a majority interest in Graffinity Pharmaceuticals GmbH of Heidelberg, Germany, a leading fragment based drug discovery services company. Financial details of the transaction were not disclosed. 16 November 2010
Pharmaceutical
Privately-held, US clinical stage pharmaceutical company Aires Pharmaceuticals had a successful fundraising day yesterday, completing a $20 million series B financing and further bolstering its cash reserves by entering into an agreement with Swiss drug major Novartis (NOVN: VX), granting the latter an exclusive option to acquire Aires following the successful completion of a Phase II clinical study of Aironite, an inhaled nitric oxide prodrug to treat pulmonary arterial hypertension. 12 November 2010
Pharmaceutical
US biopharmaceutical firm NeoPharm (Other OTC: NEOL.PK) says it has completed its previously-announced merger with Insys Therapeutics, a privately-held Phoenix, Arizona-based pharmaceutical company. 12 November 2010
Pharmaceutical
US drug major Eli Lilly (NYSE: LLY), which is facing a number of patent loses in the near future and looking to replace ensuing revenue declines, revealed yesterday that it has signed a definitive merger agreement to acquire Avid Radiopharmaceuticals, a privately held company developing novel molecular imaging compounds intended for the detection and monitoring of chronic human diseases. Lilly's shares edged 1% higher to $35.73 by close of normal trading in New York yesterday. 9 November 2010
Pharmaceutical
Framingham, Massachusetts-based GTC Biotherapeutics (GTCB.OB) had entered into a stock purchase and merger agreement with strategic partner LFB Biotechnologies of France to take the US firm private for $0.30 per share. The opening and closing prices of GTC Common Stock on Friday, November 5, 2010 on the over the count markets were both $0.28 per share. 9 November 2010
Pharmaceutical
Hungary's largest drugmaker, Gedeon Richter (RICHT:HB), says it has acquired a portfolio of prescription oral contraceptives from family-owned German company Grunenthal GmbH for a purchase price of 236.5 million euros ($328.7 million). The leading brand is the own developed Belara (chlormadinone acetate and ethinylestradiol). 5 November 2010
Pharmaceutical
One of the USA's biggest drug distributor and health care services and information technology company, McKesson Corp (NYSE: MCK), has signed a definitive agreement to purchase all outstanding shares of closely-held US Oncology, a physician practice management company for oncologists, for cash. The total transaction, including the assumption of US Oncology's outstanding debt of about $1.6 billion, is valued at around $2.16 billion. 2 November 2010
Pharmaceutical
Confirming its previously heralded ambitions in China, privately-owned Swiss drugmaker Nycomed this morning said that it has acquired a majority - 51.34% - stake in Guangdong Techpool Bio-Pharma, a fast-growing Chinese bio-pharmaceutical company based in Guangdong (The Pharma Letter October 4). 1 November 2010
Pharmaceutical
French drug major Sanofi-Aventis (Euronext: SAN) said third-quarter earnings rose 13% to 1.6 billion euros ($2.21 billion). Adjusted earnings, or business net income, advanced 8.9% to 2.47 billion euros. Business earnings per share (EPS) were 1.89 euros, an increase of 8.6% on the 2009 third-quarter figure of euro 1.74. Net sales rose 5.7% to 7.82 billion euros, though down 1.7% at constant exchange rates, with emerging markets accounting for 29.6% of group sales. Consensus sales forecasts stood at 7.65 billion euros. 29 October 2010
Pharmaceutical
US drugmaker Cephalon (Nasdaq: CEPH) says that it has exercised its option to acquire spinal treatment specialist BioAssets Development Corp (BDC), following receipt of interim data from a Phase II placebo-controlled proof-of-concept study evaluating epidural administration of a tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitor for the treatment of sciatica in 45 patients. 25 October 2010
Pharmaceutical
The European Commission has granted clearance under the EU Merger Regulation to the creation of a joint venture between DocMorris NV and K-Mail Order GmbH & Co KG. The joint venture will operate an internet and mail order pharmacy, with activities mainly in Germany. 22 October 2010
Pharmaceutical
Global pharmaceuticals behemoth Pfizer (NYSE: PFE), which is still digesting its mega $68 billion buy of Wyeth last year, has now set its sights on a smaller target, the fellow USA-based specialty drugmaker King Pharmaceuticals (NYSE: KG), in a deal valuing the later at $3.6 billion, or $14.25 a share, in cash, a 40% premium to its closing price the previous day and 46% average over the past month. King's shares leapt 39% to $14.14 on the news yesterday morning. 13 October 2010
Pharmaceutical
Hungary's largest drugmaker Gedeon Richter (RICHT:HB) has acquired the Swiss specialty biopharmaceutical firm PregLem for an initial cash consideration of 150 million Swiss francs and further milestone payments of up to 295 million francs. The acquisition values PregLem at up to 445 million francs ($461 million). The news sent Richter's shares 2.6% higher to 48,210 forint in early trading yesterday. 8 October 2010
Pharmaceutical
Global drugs behemoth Pfizer (NYSE: PFE) revealed yesterday that it is reviewing strategic alternatives for Capsugel, which may include a divestiture. Capsugel is a distinct business unit within Pfizer's Diversified Businesses segment and is the world's leading provider of hard capsules and an innovator in drug delivery systems. 7 October 2010
Pharmaceutical
Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals, a unit of Germany's Bayer (BAY: DE) has entered into an accord with Quebec, Canada-based EndoCeutics for Phase III development and worldwide marketing of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), a new treatment for vaginal atrophy and female sexual dysfunction for which a provisional trade name Vaginorm has been proposed. 6 October 2010
Pharmaceutical
In a move that aims to reduce R&D overheads, UK pharma giant GlaxoSmithKline (LSE: GSK) has spun out staff and patents relating to investigational pain relief products into a new company, Convergence Pharmaceuticals, which was officially launched yesterday, in exchange for an 18% stake, in the new firm. 5 October 2010
Pharmaceutical
Immedica Pharma, a Swedish company specializing in rare diseases, has announced its acquisition of Marinus Pharmaceuticals in a deal valued at $151 million. The agreement, finalized through a cash tender offer, marks a significant expansion of Immedica’s presence in the US market. 6 January 2025
Pharmaceutical
Full mergers and acquisitions in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology in 2024 fluctuated throughout the year with hardly any in some months and a significant number in other. But one thing was clear – buyers were shying away from big bets on commercially ready medicines in favor of earlier stage drug developers. 3 January 2025
Pharmaceutical
Regeneron Pharmaceuticals has acquired UK-based biotech Oxular, enhancing its gene therapy development program with the firm’s specialized ocular delivery tech. 3 January 2025
Pharmaceutical
Denmark-based diabetes and obesity giant Novo Nordisk says it plans to invest 8.5 billion Danish kroner ($1.2 billion) to establish a completely new production facility in Odense, Denmark. 16 December 2024
Pharmaceutical
The pharmaceutical and life sciences industry is gearing up for what analysts at PwC predict will be a highly active year for mergers and acquisitions in 2025, following a mixed performance in 2024. 13 December 2024
Pharmaceutical
Canada-headquartered Bausch + Lomb Corporation, a leading global eye health company, on Thursday confirmed reports that it is exploring a potential sale, acting in response to a request from the Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization (CIRO). 13 December 2024
Pharmaceutical
UK-based Tenpoint Therapeutics and Seattle’s Visus Therapeutics have announced the completion of their merger to create an entirely new chapter in ophthalmic therapeutic medicines aimed at rejuvenating the aging eye. 12 December 2024
Pharmaceutical
The European Commission has approved unconditionally, under the EU Merger Regulation, the proposed acquisition of contract development and manufacture organization (CDMO) Catalent (NYSE: MCTLT) by Denmark’s Novo Holdings. 7 December 2024
Pharmaceutical
GE Healthcare has announced plans to acquire from Sumitomo Chemical the half of Nihon Medi-Physics (NMP) that it doesn’t own. 5 December 2024
Pharmaceutical
Germany’s Evotec has said its chief operating officer Craig Johnstone will leave the business at the end of the year. 29 November 2024
Pharmaceutical
Munich, Germany headquartered contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) Adragos Pharma has acquired Baccinex, a Swiss-based expert in aseptic fill-finish manufacturing. 28 November 2024
Pharmaceutical
The board of Spanish plasma-based medicines producer Grifols has announced the termination of discussions with Brookfield Capital Partners (UK) regarding a potential acquisition of Grifols shares. 28 November 2024
Pharmaceutical
Swiss pharma giant Novartis today announced an upgrade to its mid-term guidance, in advance of its Meet Novartis Management event for investors and analysts in London. 21 November 2024
Pharmaceutical
Big pharmas are not deterred by China’s increasingly complex business environment. Instead, they are changing strategies to minimize risks while continuing to benefit from China, said speakers at ChinaTrials held last week in Shanghai. 18 November 2024
Pharmaceutical
Life science investor Syncona has announced the launch of its newest portfolio company, Slingshot Therapeutics, through the Syncona Accelerator initiative. 14 November 2024
Pharmaceutical
European regulators will decide by December 6 whether Novo Holdings, the controlling shareholder of Danish pharma giant Novo Nordisk, can finalize its $16.5 billion acquisition of contract drug manufacturer Catalent. 5 November 2024
Pharmaceutical
Pharmaceutical M&A came back with a bang during October, after a quiet September. 5 November 2024
Pharmaceutical
US pharma major AbbVie last week proposed $1.4 billion acquisition of US CNS drug developer Aliada Therapeutics. Last week saw a bunch of third quarter 2024 financials results, among which were Elil Lilly, AbbVie and Merck & Co. Also of note, Lexicon’s type I diabetes drug Zynquista faced a Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advisory committee review that resulted in largely negative vote against recommendation. 3 November 2024
Pharmaceutical
Melbourne, Australia-based Telix Pharmaceuticals has announced the launch of Rhine Pharma, a subsidiary aimed at increasing global access to radiopharmaceuticals for cancer treatment and imaging. 22 October 2024
Pharmaceutical
French pharma major Sanofi has opened negotiations to sell a 50% controlling stake in its consumer health business Opella to US private equity firm Clayton Dubilier & Rice (CD&R). 21 October 2024
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