Amgen Inc., a $23b multinational biopharmaceutical company is buying the worldwide rights to Otezla® from Celgene Corporation, a $13b developer of therapies for cancer and inflammatory diseases, for $13.4b. The acquisition complements Amgen’s existing inflammation franchise of innovative biologics and biosimilar products. Otezla® (apremilast) is the only oral, non-biologic treatment for psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. It is approved in more …

Exact Sciences Corp, a $454m molecular diagnostics company is acquiring Genomic Health Inc, a $394m cancer detection company for $2.8b. The deal joins two of the strong brands in molecular and cancer diagnostics, Cologuard® and Oncotype DX®, providing a strong platform for continued growth; and forms a first class commercial, research, development and clinical organization, with enhanced scale and scope …

Cantel Medical Corp., a $880m manufacturer of medical equipment announced plans to buy Hu-Friedy Mfg. Co., a maker of dental instruments and reprocessing equipment for $725m. The deal helps build out a portfolio of infection prevention solutions including consumables, instrumentation and workflow management programs for dental practitioners while also complementing Cantel’s device reprocessing offerings in both the medical and dental …

AbbVie Inc., a $32.75b pharmaceutical company agreed to buy Allergan plc, an Ireland-based $15.79b pharmaceutical company for $63b. The latest merger in an industry where huge premiums are being paid to incease growth prospects. The deal gives AbbVie Botox, but doesn’t involve a huge pipeline of blockbuster drugs. Allergan does diversify AbbVie away from Humira, the rheumatoid arthritis injection that …

The Walden Group, Inc. is pleased to announce that Arlington Capital Partners has acquired a majority interest in its client, Riverpoint Medical, LLC. Riverpoint is a major developer and manufacturer of advanced bioabsorbable and non-absorbable sutures; high-strength fiber implantables for sports medicine surgery; patented cordless surgeon headlights; and brachytherapy (cancer) devices. Walden was engaged as Riverpoint’s M&A advisor and helped …

The FDA has ordered the two remaining medical device companies, Boston Scientific and Coloplast, selling surgical mesh for the repair of pelvic organ prolapse to stop all sales and distribution in the US. The FDA said the two companies did not demonstrate a reasonable assurance of safety and effectiveness of these devices in their premarket applications. Both companies are expected …

Scientists in Israel have printed the world’s first 3D heart made of human tissue and biological molecules. Using tissues from the patient to make a personalized “ink,” a specialized printer was used to produce a working, pumping human heart complete with blood vessels. Because the engineered heart is made of the patient’s own tissues, transplanting the printed organ should keep …

General Electric is selling its biopharma business to Danaher Corp. for $21.4b. The deal complements Danaher’s current biologics workflow solutions. GE’s biopharma business includes process chromatography hardware and consumables, cell culture media, single-use technologies, development instrumentation and consumables, and related services. GE has shrunk considerably since the financial crisis a decade ago and is seeking to divest even more of …

Large pharmaceutical and diagnostic players companies have been acquiring emerging gene and cell therapy companies with promising drug pipelines or drug approvals, some with limited revenue. In March 2019, Thermo Fisher Scientific agreed to pay $1.7b to acquire Brammer Bio, which offers pre-clinical and analytical development, process optimization, and analytical qualification services, as well as clinical and commercial drug substances, …

Catalent, Inc., a $2.46b provider of delivery technologies for drugs, biologics, and consumer and animal health products, is buying Paragon Bioservices, Inc., a developer of viral vectors for gene therapies. The deal Complements Catalent’s biologics business. Paragon engages in the production and purification of therapeutic proteins, monoclonal antibodies, viral vectors, and vaccines-VLPs, as well as production of master and working …