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
Biotechnology
Nuvilex enters $21.5 billion stem cell arena through SG Austria acquisition 29 June 2011
Pharmaceutical
Cardium to acquire Transdel's Ph III topical analgesic and cosmeceutical assets for up to $4 million
Cardium Therapeutics (NYSE Amex: CXM) has entered into an agreement with fellow USA-based Transdel Pharmaceuticals (OTC Bulletin Board: TDLP) to acquire substantially all of the latter's business assets including a Phase III product candidate Ketotransdel (ketoprofen; TDLP-110), which is a topically-administered analgesic for the treatment of musculoskeletal pain. 27 June 2011
Biotechnology
US drugmaker Poniard Pharmaceuticals (Nasdaq: PARD) says it has signing of a definitive merger agreement with Allozyne, a privately held biotechnology company focused on the development of bioconjugated protein therapeutics in a share exchange deal. 24 June 2011
Generics
Both multinationals drugmakers and large domestic players are set to grab a larger share of the pharmaceutical market in China, as health care reforms start to play an increasingly important role, according to a recent report from financial consultants KPMG titled China's pharmaceutical industry - poised for the giant leap. 22 June 2011
Pharmaceutical
Danish insulin giant Novo Nordisk (NVO: N) said this morning that it is investing close to 1 billion Danish kroner ($192 million euros) in a new factory in Kalundborg, Denmark, for the production of biopharmaceuticals such as hemophilia medicines, growth hormone and other current and future pharmaceuticals. The factory is expected to create 120'150 new jobs in Kalundborg over the next three years. 22 June 2011
Generics
The Indian pharmaceutical industry is moving towards the adoption and development of generic drugs, which will help it to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of around 15% during the fiscal years 2012 through 2014, according to a new report from market research group RNCOS. 21 June 2011
Pharmaceutical
In a move that has been previously flagged, Anglo-Swedish drug major AstraZeneca's (LSE: AZN) is near to selling its Swedish dental and health care subsidiary in a deal that could bring in a handsome $1.8 billion to the company, according to a report this morning in the UK's Financial Times. 21 June 2011
Generics
USA-based K-V Pharmaceutical (NYSE: KVa/KVb) has entered into a definitive agreement to divest Nesher Pharmaceuticals, its generics subsidiary, as well as the company's generic business and assets to Zynesher Pharmaceuticals, a US unit of India's Zydus Cadila, for around $60 million in cash. The transaction is expected to close during the second quarter of KV's 2012 fiscal year, subject to customary closing conditions. 20 June 2011
Pharmaceutical
In one of two pieces of vaccine-related news yesterday, GlaxoSmithKline (LSE: GSK) said it is acquiring the remaining 51% equity interest of Shenzhen Neptunus Interlong Bio-Technique in their joint venture company, Shenzhen GSK-Neptunus Biologicals (GSKNB), for a total cash consideration of 24 million ($39 million). After approval of this agreement by the Peoples Republic of China's authorities, GSK will become the sole owner of GSKNB. 15 June 2011
Biotechnology
Synageva BioPharma, a privately held biopharmaceutical company developing drugs for rare disorders, and fellow USA-based Trimeris (Nasdaq: TRMS) - which currently has a market capitalization of some $63.6 million - have entered into a definitive merger agreement in an all-stock transaction. 14 June 2011
Generics
The world's largest pharma company, USA-based Pfizer (NYSE: PFE), has entered into a memorandum of understanding with leading Chinese drugmaker and Zhejiang Hisun Pharmaceuticals (SSE: 600267), on their intention to establish a joint venture. This potential partnership would aim to strengthen the ability of both companies to reach more patients with high-quality and low-cost medicines in the branded generics arena. 3 June 2011
Pharmaceutical
The USA's Federal Trade Commission will require Spanish firm Grifols (GRLS: MC), a manufacturer of plasma-derived drugs, to make significant divestitures as part of a settlement allowing Grifols to acquire leading American plasma-derived drug manufacturer Talecris Biotherapeutics (Nasdaq: TLCR). 2 June 2011
Pharmaceutical
USA-based Ashland (NYSE: ASH) has agreed to acquire privately-held International Specialty Products (ISP), a global specialty chemical manufacturer of innovative functional ingredients and technologies. Under the terms of the stock purchase deal, Ashland will pay around $3.2 billion for the business in an all-cash transaction. 1 June 2011
Generics
USA-based Watson Pharmaceuticals (NYSE: WPI) said yesterday that it has acquired Specifar Pharmaceuticals, a privately-held Greek generic pharmaceutical developer, manufacturer and marketer for 400 million euros ($562 million) in cash and certain contingent consideration. As a result of the buy, Watson gains a leading generic product development company that develops and out-licenses products throughout the world. 26 May 2011
Pharmaceutical
Ireland-headquartered Elan Corp (NYSE: ELN) has entered a strategic business relationship to advance US drug discovery firm Proteostasis Therapeutics' platform for the discovery and development of disease-modifying, small-molecule drugs and diagnostics for the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson's, Huntington's, multiple sclerosis and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and a broad array of dementia-related diseases including Alzheimer's. 26 May 2011
Pharmaceutical
US health care giant Johnson & Johnson' (NYSE: JNJ) Switzerland-based Cilag GmbH International has entered a definitive agreements to acquire the over-the-counter (OTC) brands of India's J B Chemicals & Pharmaceuticals for the equivalent of around $260 million in cash. The transaction is anticipated to close by mid-2011, and JB has also signed a long-term agreement to supply Cilag with finished products for the acquired Russia/CIS OTC business. 25 May 2011
Generics
Canada's Valeant Pharmaceuticals International (TSX: VRX), which was recently spurned in its $5.7 billion bid for USA-based Cephalon, which was snapped up by Teva for $6.8 billion (The Pharma Letter May 3), today announced that it has agreed to acquire Lithuania-based generics drugmaker AB Sanitas (Nasdaq OMX: SAN1L) for about 314 million euros ($444.4 million). 24 May 2011
Pharmaceutical
US drug major Eli Lilly (NYSE: LLY) has signed agreements with private investors Care Capital and NovaQuest Capital to establish BioCritica, a newly-formed and privately-held biotechnology company. 24 May 2011
Generics
US generics and niche drug company Par Pharmaceutical (NYSE: PRX) has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire privately-held Chennai, India-based Edict Pharmaceuticals, a developer and manufacturer of generic pharmaceuticals, for up to $37.6 million in cash and Par's repayment of certain additional pre-close indebtedness. The transaction is expected to be accretive in 2013. 24 May 2011
Generics
The European Commission has cleared under the EU Merger Regulation the proposed joint venture between the Dutch pharmaceutical and nutrition company DSM and Sinochem, a Chinese state-owned conglomerate. 23 May 2011
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