Johnson & Johnson has bowed out of a potential merger with Actelion, opening up the field for an unconfirmed contender widely believed to be French drugmaker Sanofi.
The US healthcare giant confirmed that it has withdrawn from discussions over a potential takeover, which would have bolstered its lung disease offering with Actelion’s pulmonary arterial hypertension portfolio.
The firm did not give a detailed reason for the move, saying only that it had not been able to reach an agreement that would create adequate value for its shareholders.
But Reuters has cited people close to the situation saying that the Swiss biotech told J&J that it could attract an offer significantly above the approximate 250 Swiss francs per share (reportedly around $27 billion) it had laid on the table, and that there were issues over the deal structure.
Actelion confirmed that it is “engaged in discussions with another party regarding a possible strategic transaction,” but stressed that “there can be no certainty at this point that any transaction will result”.
The Wall Street Journal has reported that this party is Sanofi, also citing people close to the situation.
By Selina McKee
Source: Pharma Times
Big Pharma has long seen the potential for AI and machine learning to accelerate drug development. But Novo Nordisk is going a step further by channeling $200 million toward the creation of a computer that will outrun anything in existence.
Current methods for diagnosing Alzheimer’s disease rely on a complex combination of self- and caregiver-reported symptoms, a physical examination and either a PET scan or a spinal tap to look for evidence of amyloid plaque build-ups in the brain. But a new artificial intelligence-based method may make the diagnostic process a much more objective one.
There is lots of talk about diversity and inclusion in business, including in pharma and medtech. A new report by the Open Political Economy Network (OPEN), a think tank focusing on migration and diversity, released its “Minority Businesses Matter: Europe” report highlighting the successes and challenges of ethnic minority-owned businesses in Europe.
