Amgen To Enhance Rare Disease Franchise With $27.8bn Horizon Takeover

Wins Three-Horse Race With Sanofi And J&J

The US major has announced its biggest acquisition to date in the form of a takeover that should expand its rare disease franchise and stave off concerns about internal products facing biosimilar competition.  

Close up of shaking hands
Amgen Plans To Expand The Global Footprint For Uplizna and Tepezza • Source: Shutterstock

After much speculation, Amgen, Inc. has announced it will acquire Horizon Therapeutics plc in a $27.8bn cash deal expected to strengthen its rare disease offering and extend its long-term growth potential, after rivals Sanofi and Johnson & Johnson dropped out of the contest for the Dublin-based biotech.

The deal value represents a premium of around 48% on the closing price of $78.76 per share on 29 November,...

Scrip Podcast

Keep up with the top pharma business news of the week. On the go.

Scrip brings you a weekly bulletin of top picks.

More from Deals

More from Business

  • How A New Healthcare Dialogue Is Driving Market Access In Mexico

    Companies stand a better chance of securing public reimbursement in Mexico for innovative medicines if they understand changing approaches to healthcare. The shift means the emergence of managed entry agreements and a focus on economic impact, explains AMIIF, Mexico's research-based pharmaceutical industry association.

  • How Novartis Is Elevating CVD Outcomes, Driving ‘Personalized Access’ In APMA

    Novartis’s APMA chief outlines the company’s tailored approach to deliver long-term outcomes, novel access solutions via innovative financing options and shape the CVD disease ecosystem in the extraordinarily diverse region. Partnering to build AI infrastructure is another key prong.

  • India Rare Diseases: Court Shows Path For Policy Action, Funding, Price Issues-- Test-2

    A court order encompassing funding, drug pricing, clinical trials and overall policy implementation aspects is expected to bring about a paradigm shift in the treatment of rare diseases in India. Sarepta, Roche and Sanofi are among the key players that have been part of pricing discussions.