The European Medicines Agency told doctors today that they can continue to prescribe Actelion‘s (VTX:ATLN) pulmonary arterial hypertension drug, Uptravi. The regulatory body initiated a safety review in January after 5 patients in France died and docs were asked to stop prescribing the drug. Regulators reported that their review did not suggest an increase in mortality […]
Mergers & Acquisitions
German billionaire Hopp readies sale of skin patch maker LTS
German billionaire Dietmar Hopp is reportedly preparing to sell medical skin patch maker LTS Lohmann as he looks to shake-up his investment porfolio. LTS has 1,300 employees and brings in more than 300 million euros ($319 million) in annual sales from nicotine and medical patches that treat conditions such as Parkinson’s and restless legs syndrome. […]
Actelion shareholders OK R&D spinout
Actelion (VTX:ATLN) shareholders today reportedly approved spinning off the company’s early clinical assets and drug discovery branch into a new company. The move keeps Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ) $30 billion takeover on track to close in the 2nd quarter. The newly formed biopharmaceutical company will be called Idorsia Ltd and led by Actelion CEO Jean-Paul Clozel. Shares in Idorsia […]
Johnson & Johnson’s tender offer for Actelion snares 78% stake
Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ) said today that it controls nearly 78% of voting rights in its $30 billion acquisition of Swiss biotech firm Actelion (VTX:ATLN). Janssen, J&J’s Swiss subsidiary, declared the tender offer successful. The company added that based on regulatory approval proceedings, the offer is expected to settle in the 2nd quarter of this year. J&J will have […]
Pulmatrix jumps 8% on rumors of potential Mylan takeover bid
Shares in Pulmatrix (NSDQ:PULM) jumped more than 8% today on rumors that the company’s collaboration partner Mylan (NSDQ:MYL) may be interested in a takeover bid. In 2015, the 2 companies inked an ex-U.S. development deal for PUR0200, Pulmatrix’s investigational bronchodilator for the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Mylan had an option on the rights […]
NuTech Medical acquired by Organogenesis
Organogenesis said today that it acquired NuTech Medical for an undisclosed price. The combined company plans to feature a portfolio of wound care products and surgical biologics. Birmingham, Alabama-based NuTech Medical will keep it’s non-biologics product line as a separate company called NuTech Spine. “This is an important transaction for the regenerative medicine field. It unites […]
The top medtech stories of early 2017
The new Trump administration and Republican Congress – and all the accompanying change and uncertainty – is the major story for the medical device industry. But there are many other medtech stories worth noting from the first quarter of 2017. There was an FDA warning over Abbott’s Absorb bioresorbable stent, a continued spate of M&A deals, diabetes […]
Novo Nordisk approaches Global Blood Therapeutics for possible takeover
Insulin giant Novo Nordisk (NYSE:NVO) has reportedly approached Global Blood Therapeutics (NSDQ:GBT) to discuss a possible takeover. The U.S. biotech is reviewing its options with an investment bank, according to Reuters, and there is no guarantee that it will enter formal negotiations with Novo Nordisk. Global Blood Therapeutics is developing GBT440, a once-daily, oral therapy to treat […]
Azaya Therapeutics bought by Cytori, nanoparticle program launched
Cytori Therapeutics (NSDQ:CYTX) said yesterday that it completed its acquisition of San Antonio-based Azaya Therapeutics and its nanoparticle cancer drugs. In late January, San Diego-based Cytori said it planned to buy Azaya in a stock deal, offering Azaya shareholders $2 million in CTYX stock. Cytori also said that it paid $2 million upfront for costs associated […]
How Sanofi blew its chance with Actelion
Days before entering into exclusive takeover negotiations with Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ), Actelion (VTX:ATLN) was reportedly fielding an offer from Sanofi (NYSE:SNY). But the Swiss biotech eventually agreed to go with J&J’s $30 billion bid in an all-cash deal at the end of January. Actelion accepted the U.S. healthcare giant’s offer because it provided more certainty, Reuters reported today. The prospectus […]
