Amgen has acquired Ireland-based biotechnology company Horizon Therapeutics in a $27.8bn (£22.76bn) deal following US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) approval.
The latest acquisition will bolster the inflammation portfolio of Amgen by adding Horizon’s medicines for treating rare inflammatory ailments.
These medicines include Tepezza (teprotumumab-trbw), Krystexxa (pegloticase) and Uplizna (inebilizumab-cdon).
In December 2022, Amgen entered an agreement to acquire the complete ordinary share capital of Horizon.
In May 2023, the FTC sued Amgen, blocking the Horizon takeover and claiming that the deal would “entrench monopoly drugs” intended for treating serious ailments.
In September 2023, Amgen and Horizon entered a consent order agreement with the FTC to resolve the lawsuit.
Amgen is barred from bundling its product with either Tepezza or Krystexxa.
Tepezza treats thyroid eye disease and Krystexxa is a chronic refractory gout treatment.
Amgen chairman and CEO Robert Bradway stated: “Today marks an exciting milestone as we welcome Horizon employees to Amgen and begin working together to serve even more patients around the world suffering from serious illnesses.
“We have strong momentum in our core business and the addition of Horizon will further position Amgen as a leader across a broader range of diseases.”
