(Reuters) – Swiss drug maker Actelion’s chief executive quashed speculation over its possible interest in purchasing Basilea Pharmaceutica.
“Basilea has developed interesting medications. But the company already has a partner,” Chief Executive Jean-Paul Clozel was quoted as saying in an interview published on Swiss paper Finanz und Wirtschaft’s website on Friday.
“Since we’re interested in active substances and not financial opportunities, it wouldn’t make sense for us to buy Basilea.”
(Reporting by Brenna Hughes Neghaiwi)
Airnov provides critical healthcare industries with high-quality, controlled atmosphere packaging, to protect their products from moisture and oxygen. The business has manufacturing facilities in the USA, France, China and India and employs around 700 people.
Takeda of Japan has partnered with Hong Kong-based Hutchmed, gaining the commercial rights to colorectal cancer drug fruquintinib outside of China for $400 million up front, plus $730 million in potential milestone payments. Takeda also will help develop fruquintinib, which can be applied to subtypes of refractory metastatic colorectal cancer, regardless of biomarker status, the companies said.
On April 3, Scangos, who’s been chief executive officer at Vir since the start of 2017, will hand over the reins to Marianne De Backer, Ph.D. De Backer comes over from Bayer, where she currently heads up pharmaceutical strategy, business development and licensing. Alongside her CEO appointment, De Backer is set to join Vir’s board of directors, the company said Wednesday.
