AstraZeneca Acquires U.S. Pharma Company Alexion for $39 Billion

Strengthening Blood Disorder Treatment Sector... Acquisition Completed in Q3 2021

[Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeong Hyunjin] Multinational pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca announced on the 12th (local time) that it will acquire the U.S. pharmaceutical company Alexion for $39 billion (approximately 42 trillion KRW), according to Bloomberg News and others.

This price is calculated by adding a 45% premium to Alexion's stock price on the 11th, valuing each share at $175. AstraZeneca will pay Alexion shareholders $60 in cash per share and stocks worth $115. Bloomberg described this as "the largest deal in AstraZeneca's history since its establishment in 1999, having become one of the world's top 10 pharmaceutical companies."

The acquisition of Alexion is expected to strengthen AstraZeneca's blood disorder treatment division. Alexion, a pharmaceutical company specializing in rare and intractable diseases, developed Soliris, once known as "the world's most expensive drug," and has been a leader in the related industry. Soliris is a treatment used for paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH), atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome, and myasthenia gravis, among others, with an extremely high price that costs several hundred million KRW annually for treatment.

Pascal Soriot, CEO of AstraZeneca, stated that the acquisition was decided to strengthen their position in the field of immunology. He said, "Alexion has brought transformative changes to the lives of patients suffering from rare diseases," and added, "I look forward to driving innovation together with the new colleagues from Alexion."

Both companies expect to complete the acquisition in the third quarter of 2021 after obtaining shareholder approval and regulatory review.

Based in the UK, AstraZeneca is currently developing a COVID-19 vaccine in collaboration with the University of Oxford.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.