Biogen said on Monday it will buy Nightstar Therapeutics for about $800 million in cash as the company looks to tap into a potentially lucrative gene therapy market.
Biogen's offer of $25.50 per share, represents a premium of 68 percent to Nightstar's Friday close of $15.16.
Gene therapy, an emerging field of biotechnology, uses specially engineered viruses, or viral vectors, to deliver genetic material into defective cells, in hopes of improving or potentially even curing an inherited condition. London-based gene therapy company Nightstar is focused on adeno-associated virus treatments for inherited retinal disorders.
"Ophthalmology is an emerging growth area for Biogen," said Michel Vounatsos, Biogen's chief executive officer."Nightstar would accelerate our entry into ophthalmology by contributing two mid- to late-stage gene therapy assets."Last week, Sarepta Therapeutics Inc beefed up its gene therapy portfolio through the purchase of its partner Myonexus Therapeutics, while Swiss drugmaker Roche said it was buying U.S.-based gene therapy specialist Spark Therapeutics for $4.
Goldman, Sachs is acting as financial adviser to Biogen and Centerview Partners was Nightstar's financial adviser.
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