J&J reportedly poised to acquire Europe’s biggest biotech

pharmafile | November 25, 2016 | News story | Sales and Marketing Actelion, J&J, JJ, Johnson and Johnson, acquisition 

Johnson & Johnson could be eyeing a takeover of Swiss biotech Actelion, Europe’s biggest biotech, according to insiders, Bloomberg has reported.

The pharmaceutical and consumer goods manufacturer has reportedly made an initial offer of $17 billion, while Actelion is looking into potential options, though there is no obligation for a transaction to take place.

While Actelion has attracted attention over the years as a prime target for acquisition, CEO and co-founder Jean-Paul Clozel has repeatedly reaffirmed the company’s stance to remain independent. Shire stands among the latest to have their eye on the company, placing an offer of $15.4 billion to snatch up the company in June last year which was shot down.

Advertisement

The Swiss firm’s shares have risen by 13% over the past year thanks in part to strong sales from its new pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) treatments Opsumit and Uptravi.

This is another in a sequence of big-money takeovers for J&J, as the company only recently agreed to acquire Abbott Medical Optics for $4.33 billion in September this year, after announcing earlier that it had set aside $18.5 billion in cash to use in targeted acquisitions.

Neither company has committed to comment on the rumours.

Matt Fellows

Related Content

Brenntag acquires mcePharma to expand GMP capabilities in biopharma services

Brenntag Specialties has acquired Czech-based mcePharma, strengthening its position in the pharma and biopharma industries …

handshake_2

Curium Pharma announces acquisition of Monrol

Curium Pharma, a nuclear medicine company, has acquired Eczacıbaşı-Monrol Nuclear Products (Monrol), a nuclear medicine …

Enosium Life Science acquires RWEality

Enosium Life Science, which specialises in life sciences, has acquired RWEality, a consultancy focused on …

The Gateway to Local Adoption Series

Latest content