Scalper1 News
Big pharma Pfizer ( PFE ) said Monday that it’s acquiring small biopharma Anacor Pharmaceuticals ( ANAC ) for $4.5 billion in cash, sending the latter’s stock up more than 50% in early Monday trading. Pfizer agreed to pay $99.26 a share for Anacor, a 55% premium over Friday’s closing price. The total transaction value is $5.2 billion, assuming the conversion of Anacor’s outstanding convertible notes, Pfizer said. Anacor’s sole commercial product is a toenail-fungus ointment called Kerydin, distributed by Novartis ( NVS ), but Pfizer’s press release on the merger played up Anacor’s eczema treatment crisaborole, which is under FDA review due for completion by Jan. 7. “We believe the acquisition of Anacor represents an attractive opportunity to address a significant unmet medical need for a large patient population with mild-to-moderate atopic dermatitis, which currently has few safe topical treatments available,” said Albert Bourla, head of Pfizer’s innovative businesses, in the release. Pfizer estimates crisaborole could reach peak annual sales of $2 billion. The buyout adds another asset to Pfizer’s innovate drug business, which it is widely expected to separate from its established-products business sometime in the next few years. Pfizer has said that it will make a decision on whether to split by year’s end. Pfizer already has a significant presence in inflammation and immunology, including blockbuster rheumatoid arthritis treatments Enbrel (sold in partnership with Amgen ( AMGN )) and Xeljanz. Regeneron Pharmaceuticals ( REGN ) recently reported strong late-stage data for its injectable drug dupilumab in atopic dermatitis, so while the market is currently underserved, it may soon become more competitive. Anacor stock was up 54.7% in opens trades on the stock market today , near 99. Pfizer stock was down a fraction, near 33. Regeneron stock was up almost 3%. Scalper1 News
Scalper1 News