Merck divesting allergy business

19 February 2020

Germany’s science and pharma company Merck KGaA (MRK: DE) is selling its allergy business Allergopharma to Dermapharm (DMPG: DE), a German off-patent branded medicines manufacturer.

The transaction, which is expected to close by the end of the second quarter 2020, is subject to regulatory approval and satisfaction of other customary closing conditions. The companies have agreed not to disclose the purchase price. Merck’s shares edged up 1.34% to 123.15 euros shortly after the announcement, while Dermapharm was up 3.05% to 41.28 euros

Back in 2015, Merck was rumored to be considering selling Allergopharma in a bid to reduce debts following a $17 billion takeover of American life sciences and biotech company Sigma-Aldrich and, at that time, it was suggested the business could fetch around $636 million.

This article is accessible to registered users, to continue reading please register for free. A free trial will give you access to exclusive features, interviews, round-ups and commentary from the sharpest minds in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology space for a week. If you are already a registered user please login. If your trial has come to an end, you can subscribe here.

Try before you buy

Free

7 day trial access

Take a Free Trial

All the news that moves the needle in pharma and biotech
Exclusive features, podcasts, interviews, data analyses and commentary from our global network of life sciences reporters.
Receive The Pharma Letter daily news bulletin, free forever.

Become a subscriber

£820

Or £77 per month

Subscribe Now

Unfettered access to industry-leading news, commentary and analysis in pharma and biotech.
Updates from clinical trials, conferences, M&A, licensing, financing, regulation, patents & legal, executive appointments, commercial strategy and financial results.
Daily roundup of key events in pharma and biotech.
Monthly in-depth briefings on Boardroom appointments and M&A news.
Choose from a cost-effective annual package or a flexible monthly subscription

The Pharma Letter is an extremely useful and valuable Life Sciences service that brings together a daily update on performance people and products. It’s part of the key information for keeping me informed

Chairman, Sanofi Aventis UK