Pharma & Biotech Mergers & Acquisitions News
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
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Biotechnology
In what has been a busy M&A period for US biotech giant Amgen (Nasdaq: AMGN), the company has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire privately-held Iceland-based deCODE Genetics, a global leader in human genetics. 11 December 2012
Pharmaceutical
Indian drugmaker Claris Lifesciences (CLAI: BO) has dipped 4% to 264 rupees, declining over 6% from day's high after the company said it has sold its infusions business due to a slump in sale basis, reports India's Business Standard. 9 December 2012
Pharmaceutical
Confirming recent rumors and speculation, Baxter International (NYSE:BAX ) said yesterday it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Gambro AB, a privately held dialysis product company based in Lund, Sweden, for total consideration of 26.5 billion Swedish kronor (around $4.0 billion). 4 December 2012
article
Shares of USA-based BioCryst Pharmaceuticals (Nasdaq: BCRX) saw its shares rocket as much as 80%, before levelling out and closing Friday with a 7.5% gain to $1.72, when it revealed that that the proposed merger with privately held Presidio Pharmaceuticals had been mutually terminated, as well as the related Investor financing agreement entered into on October 17, 2012. Although the original rationale for the merger had merit, the parties determined that terminating the merger was in the best interest of both companies and their respective shareholders at this time. 3 December 2012
Pharmaceutical
US clinical-stage biopharma company focused on oncology and central nervous system (CNS) therapeutics Rexahn Pharmaceuticals (NYSE Amex: RNN) that Israel's Teva Pharmaceutical Industries (NYSE: TEVA) provide an additional funding to the firm. 28 November 2012
Pharmaceutical
In a second M&A deal this year, Israel's XTL Biopharmaceuticals (TASE: XTL) announced that it has acquired 4,620,356 shares, of Proteologics (TASE: PRTL) from Teva Pharmaceutical Industries for 6.5 million shekels ($1.7 million),, which represents an amount of 1.405 shekels per share (around 22% premium). 28 November 2012
Generics
Indian drugmaker Elder Pharmaceuticals says it is ready to enter the European Union market following receipt of Certificate of Suitability (CoS) from European Directorate for the Quality of Medicines and Healthcare for its active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) diosmin, an oral phlebotropic drug used in the treatment of venous system related diseases, reports the Indian Express. 26 November 2012
Biotechnology
Mid-sized Japanese drugmaker Mochida Pharmaceutical (TYO: 4534) says that it has received marketing authorization from Japan's Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare for filgrastim, which is co-developed by Fuji Pharma, a division of Fujifilm. 26 November 2012
Pharmaceutical
The world's largest chemical company, BASF (BAS: DE), plans to acquire Norway's Pronova BioPharma (OSE: PRON.OL), a pioneer in the field of research, development, and manufacturing of omega-3 fatty acids, in a deal valuing the company at 4.85 billion Norwegian kroner ($845 million). 22 November 2012
Generics
Impax Laboratories (Nasdaq: IPXL) said yesterday that it plans to collaborate with fellow US drugmaker Perrigo (Nasdaq: PRGO) on the development, manufacturing and commercialization of an extended topical generic drug product with first to market potential. The product and terms of the agreement were not disclosed. 22 November 2012
Pharmaceutical
Following swiftly on similar news from the US Food and Drug Administration, German drug major Bayer (BAYN: DE) has gained European Commission approval for its oral anticoagulant Xarelto (rivaroxaban) for the treatment of pulmonary embolism (PE) and the prevention of recurrent deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and PE in adults. This approval makes rivaroxaban the only novel oral anticoagulant approved in this indication in the European Union. 21 November 2012
Pharmaceutical
China's Hainan Haiyao Co has signed a letter of intent with Creator Investment and Good Catch Investments Limited, respectively for the acquisition of 250,564 common shares and 871,382 A preferred shares of SinoMab Bioscience, a Hong Kong-based company with offices and manufacturing facilities in Shenzhen. 19 November 2012
Generics
USA-based Validus Pharmaceuticals (NYSE: VR) together with Wood Creek Capital Management, have acquired USs rights to six well-known product lines, patent protection on which has now expired, from the US subsidiary of Swiss drug major Novartis (NOVN: VX). No financial terms were revealed. 19 November 2012
Biotechnology
A year after announcing its decision to exit stem cell therapy, the USA's Geron Corp (Nasdaq: GERN) has entered into a non-binding letter of intent (LOI) with BioTime (NYSE: BTX) and its subsidiary, BioTime Acquisition Corp (BAC), regarding the stem cell program. The news pushed Geron's share up 3.3% to $1.25 by close of trading on Friday. 18 November 2012
Pharmaceutical
US drug firm Allergan (NYSE: AGN), best known as the maker Botox (onabotulinumtoxinA) anti-wrinkle injections, has entered into a definitive agreement with SkinMedica to acquire the privately held company's topical aesthetics skin care business. Under the terms of the agreement, Allergan will pay SkinMedica $350 million up-front (subject to certain adjustments) for the business, which includes a variety of "physician dispensed" non-prescription aesthetic skin care products and prescription products. 18 November 2012
Pharmaceutical
In a move that looks set to thwart Germany-based Bayer's (BAYN: DE) plans to acquire the US nutritional products firm, consumer products conglomerate Reckitt Benckiser (LSE: RBL) last night launched a counter bid to acquire Schiff Nutrition International (NYSE: SHF). Bayer, which announced its $34 per share ($1.2 billion) takeover offer last month (The Pharma Letter October 30), told TPL this morning that it could not comment on the situation at this stage. 16 November 2012
Generics
US specialty drugmaker Pernix Therapeutics (NYSE: PTX) has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire privately-held Cypress Pharmaceuticals, a maker of generic drugs, and its subsidiary Hawthorn Pharmaceuticals, which markets branded medicines. 15 November 2012
Generics
Shares in Russian companies 36.6 and Veropharm surged in Monday afternoon trading on the Moscow Stock Exchange on news the competition watchdog, the FAS, had cleared financial conglomerate AFK Sistema to buy up to 100% of drugmaker Veropharm, as had previously been mooted (The Pharma Letter November 6). 14 November 2012
Biotechnology
Biotechnology firm Novogen (ASX: NRT) yesterday announced that it has signed a term sheet in relation to the proposed acquisition of all of follow Australia-based Triaxial Pharmaceuticals for A$1.88 million ($1.80 million) in a combination of the company's ordinary shares and debt based on the achievement of certain clinical milestones. 13 November 2012
Biotechnology
USA-based Synthetic Biologics (NYSE: SYN), a developer of synthetic biologics and innovative medicines for serious infections and diseases, says it has entered into an agreement with Prev AbR to acquire its clinical-stage and related beta-lactamase assets targeted for the prevention of Clostridium difficile infection, the leading cause of hospital acquired infections (HAI), that may occur secondary to treatment with antibiotics. 12 November 2012
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
Biotechnology
Aizen Therapeutics, an AI-driven biotech headquartered in San Diego, has officially launched from stealth mode, introducing its drug discovery platform, DaX. 21 November 2024
Biotechnology
Massachusetts, USA-based firm VBI Vaccines has initiated a nationwide voluntary recall of PreHevbrio (hepatitis B vaccine), as it proceeds with bankruptcy and the shutdown of its operations. 19 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
Biotechnology
Last week saw US pharma major AbbVie release disappointing Phase II trial results on its emraclidine in schizophrenia, which benefited Bristol Myers Squibb. Also on the research front, Germany’s Merck KGaA and Abbisko’s pimicotinib showed positive results in tenosynovial giant cell tumor (TGCT). M&A news saw German BioNTech punting $800 million upfront to acquire China based oncology focused Biotheus. Also of note, US drugmaker Halozyme Therapeutics made an unsolicited takeover bid for Evotec, valuing the German firm, at around 2 billion euros. 17 November 2024
Biosimilars
South Korean biosimilars company Celltrion today announced its acquisition of iQone Healthcare Switzerland a specialty pharmaceutical company focused on distribution, sales, and marketing in Switzerland. 15 November 2024
Biotechnology
Shares of German drug discovery company Evotec leapt 20% to 10.33 euros this morning on the revelation that the USA’s Halozyme Therapeutics has submitted a non-binding proposal to acquire Evotec for 11.00 euros per share in cash, implying a fully-diluted equity value of around 2.0 billion euros ($2.12 billion). 15 November 2024
Biotechnology
BeiGene has announced plans to rebrand as BeOne Medicines, a move the cancer specialist says reflects its commitment to fighting cancer through collaboration. 15 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
Biotechnology
Although it is seeing a downturn in sales and profits, German biotech BioNTech is continuing to acquire assets with the cash pile it made through the covid pandemic, notably iis Comirnaty vaccine that was developed with Pfizer (NYSE: PFE). 13 November 2024
Biotechnology
Trace Neuroscience, a newly launched biopharma based in San Francisco, aims to advance treatments for neurodegenerative diseases, starting with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). 12 November 2024
Biotechnology
AlloVir has entered into a definitive agreement to merge with biopharma company Kalaris Therapeutics. 8 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
Biotechnology
California, USA-based biotech Nektar Therapeutics’ shares closed up more than 8% at $1.33 yesterday after it announced the sale of its only manufacturing facility. 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
Biotechnology
Maryland, USA–based glycobiology specialist GlycoMimetics has entered into an acquisition agreement with Crescent Biopharma, a privately held biotechnology company advancing a pipeline of oncology therapeutics designed to treat solid tumors. 30 October 2024
Biotechnology
German drugmaker Dr Falk Pharma GmbH today announced completion of the acquisition of Kynos Therapeutics, a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company focusing on the development of novel KMO inhibitors for acute and chronic inflammatory diseases. 29 October 2024
Biotechnology
US Pharma major AbbVie has reached a definitive agreement to acquire Aliada Therapeutics, a biotech advancing therapies using a novel blood-brain barrier (BBB)-crossing technology to address challenging central nervous system (CNS) diseases. 29 October 2024
Biotechnology
Ottimo Pharma, a biotech founded by Medicxi in 2020, has emerged from stealth mode with an executive team packed with prominent industry leaders. 28 October 2024
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