Roche Acquires Spark Therapeutics, Inc. in Another Large Biotech Deal

Roche Acquires Spark Therapeutics, Inc. in Another Large Biotech Deal

by | Mar 1, 2019 4:16 pm | Biotechnology

It’s been a busy year for the biotechnology sector so far, and this week continued the trend. Roche (SIX: RO), the global pharmaceuticals and diagnostics company, acquired Spark Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: ONCE) for $4.3 billion. At $114.50 per share, the price represents a 122% premium to Spark’s closing price on February 22, 2019, and a 19% premium to Spark’s high share price on July 9, 2018. Founded in 2013, Spark Therapeutics develops gene therapies for genetic diseases, including blindness, hemophilia, lysosomal storage disorders, and neurodegenerative diseases. Spark will continue operations in Philadelphia as an independent company under Roche. The deal gives Roche key... Read More »

Pfizer Buys into Gene Therapy

by | Aug 3, 2016 5:28 pm | Biotechnology, Pharmaceuticals

Pfizer’s (NYSE: PFE) interest in the field of gene therapy just got real. The pharma giant just spent $193 million to pick up Bamboo Therapeutics Inc., a privately-held biotechnology company that focuses on therapies for rare and devastating central nervous system (CNS) and neuromuscular diseases. In the first quarter of 2016, Pfizer acquired 22% of Bamboo’s fully diluted equity for $43 million. On August 2, the company announced that it had acquired the remaining equity for an upfront payment of $150 million. Bamboo Therapeutics is also eligible to receive milestone payments of up to $495 million. Since 2014, Pfizer has established gene therapy-based collaborations, research and... Read More »