Mergers and acquisitions

Genentech to Roche: We’re equipped for hard times

04-Mar-2009 -  Genentech believes a far-sighted approach to patent expiration, unique and life saving drugs and an unrivalled scientific culture will protect it from recession and ensure greater growth than Roche envisions....

"Anywhere, anytime" – Genentech challenges Roche

03-Mar-2009 -  Genentech used its investor meeting to retaliate against criticisms made by Roche, saying it will debate its financial model “anywhere, anytime with anyone”.

Multinational deals set to continue in Indian pharma

23-Feb-2009 -  The Indian pharmaceutical and biotech sectors may see more M&A activity this year with rumours that GSK, Sanofi Aventis and Merck KGaA are on the look out for potential deals....

Sanofi "no comment" on deal for Brazil's Medley

17-Feb-2009 -  French drug major Sanofi Aventis is in talks about taking over market leading Brazilian generics firm Medley, according to reports the country’s Valor Economico newspaper.   

Sanofi won’t follow mega-merger plan like Pfizer’s, says CEO

12-Feb-2009 -  New Sanofi Aventis chief Christopher Viebacher has virtually ruled out major acquisitions, eschewing the trend started by Pfizer’s $68bn (€53bn) swoop for Wyeth in favour of an anti-mega merger stance...

Genentech wanted $112 per share from Roche; SEC filing

11-Feb-2009 -  The strained relationship between Genentech and Roche has been revealed in a SEC filing, which details their differing valuations and accusations of misleading financial models.

Amcor in talks for Alcan’s packaging unit

10-Feb-2009 -  Australian packaging company Amcor is in talks with mining giant Rio Tinto about buying part of the latter’s Alcan Packaging Division, confirming speculation that emerged late last year. ...

Genentech “disappointed” at Roche’s hostile action

02-Feb-2009 -  Roche has stepped up its pursuit of Genentech, launching a hostile bid of $42bn after growing frustrated with the lack of progress over the past six months.

M&A fever sweeps drug industry in wake of Pfizer-Wyeth deal

29-Jan-2009 -  Pfizer’s $68bn swoop for Wyeth looks set to start an epidemic of merger madness according to comments by Frost & Sullivan (F&S) analyst Shabeer Hussain.

Pfizer to acquire Wyeth in $68bn deal

26-Jan-2009 -  Pfizer has confirmed it has entered into an agreement to buy Wyeth in a deal worth $68bn, which it hopes will strengthen its position in anticipation of a challenging few...

Sanofi to sell liquid drugs plant to Unither

19-Jan-2009 -  Sanofi-Aventis is to sell its liquid drug manufacturing plant in Colomiers, southwest France, to industry specialist Unither for an as yet undisclosed sum. 

News in brief

Taro accuses Sun of PR posturing

06-Jan-2009 -  Taro chairman Barrie Levitt says Sun’s publication of details of incomplete settlement talks designed to address the parties’ long running acquisition battle violates confidentiality agreements and presents a one-sided view...

Hectic week of M&A led by the return of King to Alpharma

26-Nov-2008 -  King Pharmaceuticals’ $1.6bn (€1.2bn) acquisition of Alpharma heads a busy week of deals that has seen J&J agree to pay $438m for Omrix and India’s Sun further its presence in...

News in brief

Lilly completes $6bn ImClone acquisition

25-Nov-2008 -  Eli Lilly has bought ImClone for around $6bn (€4.6bn), gaining access to the blockbuster cancer therapy Erbitux (cetuximab) and significantly expanding its portfolio of Phase III oncology candidates, including IMC11F8...

Reshaping R&D replaces cost cutting as top priority

13-Nov-2008 - Cost cutting has sustained pharma profits in the faltering global economy, however top executives are starting to realise that reducing R&D capacity may not have been the smartest move in...

RCP’s big plans for nanotechnology

12-Nov-2008 -  Robert Sexauer, CEO of biopharmaceuticals group RCP Therapeutics, says the R&D investment deal signed with FirstPoint Biotech shows the attractiveness of the firm’s nano-medical pipeline, particularly given the current economic...

Lilly to acquire ImClone for $6.5bn

07-Oct-2008 -  Eli Lilly has agreed to acquire ImClone for $6.5bn and in doing so appears to have snatched the biotech away from Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMS), which first tabled a bid back...

Teva Kowa JV to target Japanese generics market

25-Sep-2008 -  Teva and Kowa have set their sights on Japan’s $4.6bn (€3.1bn) generics market with their development and manufacturing joint venture Teva-Kowa Pharma.  

Zentiva board accepts Sanofi’s revised €1.8bn offer

23-Sep-2008 -  Sanofi-Aventis’ €1.8bn ($2.6bn) offer for Czech generics firm Zentiva has been unanimously accepted by the latter firm’s board after four months of wrangling that has seen the bid increase by...

Israeli court rules against “disingenuous” Taro

28-Aug-2008 - The Tel-Aviv District Court has found in favour of Sun Pharmaceuticals in its long running struggle to acquire Israeli drug and pharmaceutical ingredient maker Taro Pharmaceutical Industries.

Genentech rejects Roche but leaves door ajar

14-Aug-2008 - Genentech’s special advisory committee has rejected Roche’s $44bn offer for the biotech believing that it “substantially undervalues” the company.

APC parent to be bought by Otsuka Chemical

06-Aug-2008 -  US protein manufacture and development services provider American Peptide Company (APC) says that its parent company, Ito Life Sciences (ILS), is to be acquired by fellow Japanese firm Otsuka Chemical....

MeadWestvaco and Bilcare jointly buy packaging firm

22-Jul-2008 - Contract packaging company International Labs has been taken over in a joint acquisition between India’s Bilcare and MeadWestvaco of the US.

Brookwood acquisition expands delivery portfolio

21-Jul-2008 - Brookwood Pharmaceuticals, a subsidiary of SurModics, has acquired the exclusive rights to all pharmaceutical applications of PharmaSol’s nanostructured lipid carrier (NLC) technology.

Teva pounces on Barr with $7.5bn offer

21-Jul-2008 - There looks set to be further consolidation in the generics sector with Teva offering to acquire Barr Pharmaceuticals in a deal worth $7.5bn