Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE:BMY) may have the unfortunate distinction of being among the most highly-concentrated pharmaceutical companies in the U.S. (For a quick refresher on this, check out Top-Heavy Pharmaceuticals), but management is certainly looking to do something about that. After Monday's close, Bristol-Myers announced a friendly buyout of its partner ZymoGenetics (Nasdaq:ZGEN) in a deal that gives shareholders of this small biotech $9.75 a share in cash, or an 84% premium to the prior closing price.
What is Bristol-Myers Buying?
ZymoGenetics actually has quite a lot going on, but Bristol-Myers is almost certainly buying the company in order to have 100% ownership of its PEG-Interferon lambda drug. This promising hepatitis C therapy is in Phase 2 testing, but could be a blockbuster ($1 billion or more in sales) in less than five years' time. Moreover, this drug could fit in nicely with Bristol-Myers' other clinical HCV candidates, and lead to a potential combination therapy. Just as Gilead (Nasdaq:GILD) has significantly changed the HIV treatment landscape with its combination therapies, Bristol-Myers could possibly do something similar in hepatitis C.
To read the full piece, please go to:
http://stocks.investopedia.com/stock-analysis/2010/Bristol-Myers-Pays-A-Premium-For-Its-Partner-BMY-ZGEN-GILD-MRK-ITMN0910.aspx
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