Pfizer Sells Hospira’s Infusion Therapy Business

Way back in February 2015, Pfizer Inc. (NYSE: PFE) agreed to pay $17 billion to acquire Hospira, Inc., a global provider of injectable drugs and infusion technologies. In early October 2016, Pfizer agreed to sell Hospira’s infusion therapy business to ICU Medical Inc. (NASDAQ: ICUI) for $1 billion in cash and stock. The company develops, manufactures and sells medical devices used in infusion therapy, oncology and critical care applications. Pfizer will receive approximately $400 million in newly issued shares of ICU Medical common stock and $600 million in cash from ICU, for a total purchase price of approximately $1 billion. Upon completion, Pfizer will own approximately 16.6% of... Read More »

Allergan Is Bullish on Biotech

Ever since Allergan (NYSE: AGN) completed the $40.5 billion sale of its generics business to Teva Pharmaceutical Industries (NYSE: TEVA) on August 2, the pharma giant is targeting biotech companies with a vengeance. In September alone (and we’re only talking about three weeks at this point), the company has announced four deals, totalling $1.28 billion. Year-to-date, Allergan has announced nine transactions for a total of $1.67 billion, more than Pfizer’s (NYSE: PFE) seven deals but far behind the $19.8 billion Pfizer committed to those transactions. (Pfizer’s biggest deal this year, the $13.5 billion acquisition of Medivation (NASDAQ: MDVN), was announced in August.)... Read More »

Allergan Adds Tobira to Its GI Pipeline

Allergan plc (NYSE: AGN) shows no signs of slowing its acquisition pace this year, and just solidified its lead in therapeutics for nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), an incurable disease affecting approximately 5% of the U.S. population. The pharma giant announced its acquisition of Tobira Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ: TBRA), This transaction marks the company’s eighth in 2016, and $1.63 billion spent in upfront payments alone since January. Tobira came with an upfront purchase price of $533.6 million, or $28.35 per share, and up to $49.84 per share in Contingent Value Rights that may be payable based on the successful completion of certain milestones, for a total consideration of up to... Read More »

Horizon Pharma Buys Raptor

For the week ending September 16, 2016, a combined $1.01 billion was spent on three pharmaceutical deals, one of which is also the largest pharmaceutical deal so far in September. Horizon Pharma plc (NASDAQ: HZNP), which develops, acquires and commercializes medicines for the treatment of arthritis, pain, inflammatory and/or orphan diseases, acquired Raptor Pharmaceuticals Corp. (NASDAQ: RPTP) for approximately $800 million, or $9.00 per share. Raptor focuses on developing and commercializing transformative treatments for people affected by rare and debilitating diseases. The transaction gives Horizon global rights to PROCYSBI® delayed-release capsules, used to treat nephropathic... Read More »

Allergan Eyes Clinical-Stage Ocular Drugs

Allergan plc (NYSE: AGN) just purchased privately-held RetroSense Therapeutics LLC for $60 million in an all-cash transaction, with potential regulatory and commercialization milestone payments. Based in Ann Arbor Michigan, RetroSense is a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on novel gene therapy approaches to restore vision in those suffering from blindness. Its lead development program, RST-001, is a novel gene therapy for the potential treatment of Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP). The acquisition gives Allergan global rights to RetroSense’s lead product candidate, RST-001. In 2014, RST-001 received Orphan Drug Designation by the U.S. FDA for the treatment of Retinitis... Read More »

The State of the Medical Marijuana Market

In the 1960s and 70s, pot smokers were warned that marijuana could cause schizophrenia, among other mental disorders. Today, it’s lawmakers and government officials who exhibit symptoms of that condition. On August 11, 2016, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) announced that it would allow more research into marijuana, and would expand the number of sites that can grow cannabis for research. At the same time, the agency rejected requests from several sectors, including The Epilepsy Foundation, that it relax the classification of cannabis from Schedule 1, as a dangerous, highly addictive drug with no medical use. Bummer, man. Today, 25 states have a medical or recreational cannabis... Read More »