EU okays Pfizer US$43 bln Seagen buy

Business & Finance
20 Oct 2023 • 2:58 PM MYT
Media Selangor (EN)
Media Selangor (EN)

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BRUSSELS, Oct 20 — United States (US) pharmaceutical company Pfizer gained unconditional EU antitrust approval on Thursday for its proposed US$43 billion (RM205 billion) acquisition of cancer drug maker Seagen.

Pfizer announced the deal in March, its largest purchase in a string of recent acquisitions thanks to a once-in-a-lifetime cash windfall from its Covid-19 vaccine and treatment.

The European Commission said the deal would not significantly reduce competition in the 27-country European Union, nor would it have a negative impact on prices.

“The proposed merger would not raise competition concerns,” the EU antitrust watchdog said in a statement.

Washington-based Seagen is a pioneer of antibody-drug conjugates, which work like “guided missiles” designed to destroy cancer while sparing healthy cells.

— Reuters