FTC Intervention in Amgen-Horizon Deal Stuns Biopharma
The US Federal Trade Commission’s lawsuit to potentially block the $27.8 merger of Amgen and Horizon Therapeutics is creating heightened concern in the international biopharma sector.
Biopharma
3M Ramps Up Biopharma Filtration Capabilities
Science and technology group 3M has announced plans to invest $146 million to expand its biopharma filtration capabilities at manufacturing facilities in Europe. The company did not disclose the facilities’ locations.
FTC Seeks to Block Amgen-Horizon Merger
Calling the deal announced late last year an alarming sign for biopharma, the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is seeking to block the closing of Amgen’s proposed $28 billion acquisition of Horizon Therapeutics with a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction.
Wacker Buys All of ADL BioPharma from Private Equity
German chemical group Wacker has acquired 100% of ADL Biopharma from private equity investor Kartesia for a price said to exceed €100 million. It now owns the entire 150,000 m2 production site in the northern Spanish city of Léon with fermentation capacity of just under 3,000 cbm (gross volume).
Baxter Sells BioPharma to Private Equity
Confirming media reports, Baxter International announced it has agreed to sell its BioPharma Solutions (BPS) business to a private equity consortium of Warburg Pincus and Advent International for $4.25 billion in cash.
Private Equity Steps up for Baxter Biopharma
A private equity consortium of Warburg Pincus and Advent International is said to be in advanced talks to acquire medical device maker Baxter International’s biopharma solutions business. The deal could be worth $4 billion or more, news agencies and the newspaper Wall Street Journal reported.
Baxter Said to Eye Sale of Biopharma CMO Arm
Plans by US healthcare company Baxter International to shed its biopharma contract business as it streamlines operations after a poor 2022 earnings performance are gradually taking concrete shape.
Sanofi Buying Diabetes Specialist Provention Bio
Paris-based French drugmaker Sanofi has agreed to acquire Provention Bio for $25 per share in cash, representing an equity value of about $2.9 billion. The publicly traded US biopharma focuses on intercepting and preventing immune-mediated diseases including type 1 diabetes (T1D).
Sumitovant Closes Myovant Purchase
US biopharma Sumitovant – a wholly owned subsidiary of Japan’s Sumitomo Pharma – has closed its purchase of the remaining equity in Myovant Sciences, taking full control of the Swiss clinical-stage biopharma for about $1.7 billion. Myovant will now be delisted from the New York Stock Exchange.
Solvay Joins Genesis Consortium to Boost Biotech
Solvay’s venture capital fund has joined the Genesis Consortium, a global alliance of venture capital firms and corporations that support startups leveraging biotechnology to promote both human and planetary health.
GenScript Raises $224 Million in Fresh Capital
In its third fundraising round in less than two years, Hong Kong-listed globally active CDMO giant GenScript Biotech has netted a fresh $224 million capital injection for its biologics subsidiary ProBio, which was officially launched under that name in 2020.
Resilience and Mubadala in Biopharma Venture
US biopharma manufacturing and technology company National Resilience has entered into an agreement with Abu Dhabi investor Mubadala Investment Company to build a manufacturing plant in the United Arab Emirate’s biggest city. This will be the first GMP biopharma facility in the UAE.
Sunshine Biopharma Buys Nora Pharma
Canadian pharma Sunshine Biopharma has taken over compatriot company Nora Pharma for C$30 million.
Sartorius to Acquire Albumedix for £415 Million
Göttingen, Germany-based life science group Sartorius, through its French-listed subgroup Sartorius Stedim Biotech, plans to acquire all shares of Nottingham, England’s Albumedix, a specialist in recombinant albumin-based solutions, for about £415 million.
Cytiva Opens Swiss Cell and Gene Therapy Center
Cytiva, the former biopharma activities of General Electric and now part of Danaher, will open a new manufacturing facility in Grens, Switzerland, on May 31. Operations at the existing site in Eysins will continue through 2023, while full production transfers to the Grens site.
Symeres Boosts US Foothold with Organix Buy
Symeres, a Dutch CDMO and contract research organization, has acquired Organix, a US-based specialized organic chemistry services producer that focuses on lipids. The two firms are highly complementary and the combination unlocks significant strategic value, said Symeres, which generates nearly 50% of its revenues in the US.
Expanding Into Oligonucleotides
The global market for oligonucleotide therapeutics is expanding rapidly. Bachem, an innovation-driven company based in Bubendorf, Switzerland, has entered this competitive environment in 2019.
