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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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
Pharmaceutical
Emerging markets, BRIC countries are words that have recently risen to prominence in a majority of pharmaceutical and biotech companies' press releases and in the interviews of corporate executives. Amidst the flurry of activity generated by pharmaceutical companies' ventures into the economies of countries such as China, India, Brazil, and Russia, one company is already scouting for greener pastures, note analysts at industry expert GlobalData. 20 September 2012
Pharmaceutical
US health care giant Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ) yesterday said it plans to establish four regional innovation centers in major life sciences communities in the world as part of a novel approach to accelerate early-stage acquisitions, partnerships and investment opportunities across its global health care businesses. The four innovation centers are scheduled to be operational in the coming months. 19 September 2012
Biotechnology
Complete Genomics (Nasdaq: GNOM) yesterday revealed that it has entered into a definitive merger agreement to be acquired by China's BGI-Shenzhen for a consideration of $117.6 million, sending the US firm's share leaping 15% to $3.07 in morning trading. The transaction is expected to be completed in early 2013. 18 September 2012
Biotechnology
Australian biotech firm Bionomics (ASX: BNO) has expanded its presence in the USA with the acquisition of San Diego, USA-based private biotechnology company Eclipse Therapeutics in a scrip-based $10 million deal. With consideration of around 23.9 million shares at $0.4176 per share, Eclipse shareholders, that include Biogen Idec (Nasdaq: BIIB), will own about 6.5% of Bionomics' issued capital. 17 September 2012
Biotechnology
USA-based Response Genetics (Nasdaq: RGDX) last week entered into a purchase agreement with UK pharma giant GlaxoSmithKline (LSE: GSK) and one of its existing significant stockholders to raise $8.8 million from the private placement of eight million newly-issued shares of its common stock at a purchase price of $1.10 per share. 16 September 2012
Generics
Global drugs behemoth Pfizer (NYSE: PFE) and Zhejiang Hisun Pharmaceuticals (SSE Code: 600267), a leading Chinese pharmaceutical company, have announced the launch of Hisun-Pfizer Pharmaceuticals Co), a joint venture formed between the two companies to develop, manufacture and commercialize off-patent pharmaceutical products in China and global markets. This furthers the companies' earlier framework agreements (The Pharma Letter February 19). 14 September 2012
Pharmaceutical
Once upon a time Japan's pharma companies could be compared to a convoy of ships. The big and small, fast and slow ships all moved at the same pace, comments long-time Japan industry watcher P Reed Maurer, president of International Alliances Limited. Their businesses were largely confined to Japan, and they spoke with one voice to the government in terms of reimbursement prices and regulatory requirements, he notes. 12 September 2012
Biotechnology
Anglo-Swedish drug major AstraZeneca (LSE: AZN) has formed a joint venture with China's WuXi AppTec to develop and commercialize MEDI5117, a novel biologic for autoimmune and inflammatory diseases, in China. 11 September 2012
Pharmaceutical
US drugmaker Jazz Pharmaceuticals (Nasdaq: JAZZ) today announced a definitive agreement to sell its women's health business, which includes six products, to Sweden-based Meda (OMX: MEDA) for $95 million in cash. 7 September 2012
Biotechnology
Danish CNS drug specialist Lundbeck A/S (LUND: DC) said this morning that it has made an investment of 10 million euros ($12.6 million) Finland based biotech firm Biotie Therapies (OMX: BTH1V), at 0.5375 euros per share, representing 4.6% of the total equity capital in Biotie and a 25% premium to the latter's closing price on September 6. Biotie shares rose 2.3% to 0.45 euros, while Lundbeck edged 0.3% higher to 109.10 Danish kroner, in early trading. 7 September 2012
Pharmaceutical
In a sixth acquisition so far this year, as well as several takeovers the previous year, Canada's Valeant Pharmaceuticals International (TSX: VRX) has entered into a definitive agreement to buy all the outstanding common stock of USA-based dermatological drug specialist Medicis Pharmaceutical (NYSE: MRX) for $44.00 per share in cash, a transaction value of around $2.6 billion, which was unanimously approved by the boards of directors of both companies. 4 September 2012
Pharmaceutical
Japanese drug major Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma (TYO: 4508) has agreed to acquire the 49% holding (20,580 shares) held by fellow Japan based Nipro Corp in the blood product joint venture Bipha Corp, with effect on September 5, following which Nipro, which will record a 4 billion yen ($51 million) extraordinary profit from selling the shares, will cease to have any interest in the JV. 3 September 2012
Pharmaceutical
Sunovion Pharmaceuticals, a US subsidiary of Japan's Dainippon Sumitomo Pharma (TYO: 4506) last week signed a definitive agreement to acquire Elevation Pharmaceuticals, a privately held US biopharmaceutical company specializing in the development of new aerosol therapies for patients with respiratory diseases, for a consideration of as much as $430 million. 3 September 2012
Biotechnology
US biopharma firm Synergy Pharmaceuticals (Nasdaq: SGYP) has signed an asset purchase agreement with Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE: BMY) to acquire the assets related to FV-100, an orally available nucleoside analogue, currently being developed for the treatment of shingles, a severe, painful skin rash caused by reactivation of the varicella zoster virus - the virus that causes chickenpox. 28 August 2012
Pharmaceutical
Germany's Merck KGaA (MRK: DE) announced yesterday that it has entered into definitive agreements to acquire Biochrom AG located in Berlin, Germany. Financial terms of the transaction are not being disclosed. 22 August 2012
Pharmaceutical
Ireland-based health care services company United Drug (UDG: IR) announced yesterday that it has reached agreement to acquire the UK and US clinical services businesses Bilcare Global Clinical Supplies (Bilcare GCS) from Bilcare Limited for a total consideration of $61 million. 20 August 2012
Generics
Cinven, a Channel Islands-based private equity firm, said last Friday that it has reached agreement to acquire UK specialty drugmaker Mercury Pharma, as a platform for further industry consolidation, from Hg Capital for an enterprise value of £465 million ($730 million). 20 August 2012
Generics
Leading drug multinationals, including global behemoth Pfizer (NYSE: PFE) and Swiss major Novartis (NOVN: VX) are reportedly considering acquiring India-based Strides Arcolab's injectable drugs business Agila Specialties, according to a report by the Economic Times of India, quoting sources familiar with the situation. 20 August 2012
Generics
German drugmaker Stada Arzneimittel (SAZ: GR) revealed this week that it has signed a contract and accompanying temporary service contracts on the sale of two Russian production facilities, a move that has been anticipated since the company declared its intention to optimize operations in Russia earlier this year (The Pharma Letter April 23). 16 August 2012
Pharmaceutical
South Africa headquartered Aspen Pharmacare (APN: SJ) revealed this morning that it has reached agreement with UK pharma giant GlaxoSmithKline (LSE: GSK) for the acquisition of a portfolio of 25 established pharmaceutical products which are distributed in Australia. The Transaction consideration is £172 million ($290 million) based upon a completion date of October 31, 2012 and is subject to minor reduction should completion be delayed beyond this date. Aspen expects the Transaction to be earnings accretive in the year ending 30 June 2013. 15 August 2012
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