Look back on pharma news May 16-20

By Barbara Obstoj-Cardwell. Editor

Commenting on US pharma giant Pfizer’s latest M&A move last week, EP Vantage, the editorial arm of the Evaluate group, recalled that Pfizer lost its chance at scooping up the number four player in dermatology when its $160 billion Allergan acquisition fell apart under US government pressure. Now the group is spending a tiny fraction of that to get a small collection of skin-disorder products with the takeout of Anacor Pharmaceuticals.

The $5.2 billion price tag on the deal puts a firm valuation on the company’s two most promising projects, the eczema cream crisaborole now before US regulators and the Phase II psoriasis agent AN2898. Yet it will do very little to satisfy Pfizer investors’ hunger for a major strategic move – either a big megamerger or a breakup that could change the story from stagnant growth, says EPV.