Actelion, Under Pressure To Diversify, Eyes Rare Disease Start-Up Ceptaris

Actelion is paying a $25 million upfront for an option to acquire Ceptaris Therapeutics, contingent upon the latter’s receiving FDA approval for its only asset, Valchlor, which faces an August PDUFA date. If the deal closes, Ceptaris will receive another $225 million plus milestones from the Swiss-based biotech.