GSK Divests Two Travel Vaccines
GlaxoSmithKline plc (NYSE: GSK) announced recently it is selling two travel vaccines to Bavarian Nordic for $334.7 million upfront, plus a potential $1.06 billion in milestone payments. The sale included rabies vaccine Rabipur (tradename Rabavert in the United States) and Encepur, for the prevention of tick-borne encephalitis. GSK obtained the vaccines as part of a 2015 deal with Novartis (NYSE: NVS). GSK divested its oncology business to Novartis for $300 million and gained the vaccines in return. According to the company’s annual report, GSK generated $7.58 billion from its vaccine segment in 2018. Both vaccines will continue to be manufactured primarily at GSK’s Marburg site in... Read More »
Ra Pharmaceuticals Targeted in $2.1 Billion Acquisition
The global biopharmaceutical company UCB (Brussels: UCB) announced it is acquiring Ra Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: RARX) for $2.1 billion. Ra Pharma is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company that develops novel therapeutics for the treatment of serious diseases caused by excessive or uncontrolled activation of the complement system, a critical component of the innate immune system. Ra Pharmaceuticals shareholders will receive $48.00 for each held share (approx. $2.5 billion or EUR 2.2 billion), with transaction value at $ 2.1 billion or EUR 2 billion, net of Ra Pharma cash. Ra Pharma reported a trailing 12-month revenue of $2.5 million. This acquisition will give UCB a number of high-value... Read More »
Alder BioPharmaceuticals Merges with H. Lundbeck in $1.95 Billion Deal
H. Lundbeck A/S (OMX: LUN), the specialty pharmaceutical giant based in Denmark, announced its first acquisition in over a year. The company revealed it was buying Alder BioPharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: ALDR), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on transforming migraine treatment through the discovery, development and commercialization of novel therapeutic antibodies. One product candidate is ALD1910, a monoclonal antibody for migraine prevention. Lundbeck gains Alder’s eptinezumab product, an investigational monoclonal antibody for migraine prevention that it will develop and launch worldwide in the upcoming years. Lundbeck expects to see significant growth in its brain... Read More »
Gene-Editing Firm Semma Acquired by Vertex
Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (NASDAQ: VRTX) purchased another gene-editing biotech company last week, marking its fourth announced transaction of 2019. The pharmaceutical giant bought Semma Therapeutics for $950 million in an all-cash transaction for all of the company’s outstanding shares. Semma leverages stem cell-derived human islets to research potentially cures for type 1 diabetes. The biotech firm will become a separate operating subsidiary of Vertex and executives of Semma will join Vertex and remain in leadership positions at Semma. After a hiatus in 2018, Vertex has been on a shopping spree this year to build its gene-editing platform and capabilities for various... Read More »
Agilent Acquires BioTek Instruments
Agilent Technologies (NYSE: A) announced its largest deal ever in July 2019. The Santa Clara, California-based biotech purchased privately held BioTek Instruments for nearly $1.2 billion. Agilent provides bio-analytical solutions and services to the life sciences, diagnostics, and genomics, chemical analysis, communications and electronics industries worldwide. On a trailing 12-month basis it generated revenue of $5.0 billion, EBITDA of $1.2 billion and net income of $1.1 billion. BioTek designs, manufactures and distributes life science instrumentation worldwide. Its product line includes cell imaging systems, microplate readers, washers, dispensers, automated incubators and stackers.... Read More »Schedule a demo
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