Servier Acquires Shire Oncology Business For $2.4bn

French pharma Servier takes step to meet its strategic ambition of becoming a global player in oncology by acquiring Shire's cancer franchise for $2.4bn

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Will selling some of the family silver deter Takeda? • Source: Shutterstock

With Shire PLC in the crosshairs of a number of major pharma companies, with Japan’s Takeda Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. thought to be the leading potential bidder, the company has sold its oncology business to France’s Servier SA for $2.4bn. The disposal of the oncology franchise might make the company less attractive an acquisition target. 

Commenting on the deal, Shire CEO Flemming Ornskov said: “While the oncology business has delivered high growth and profitability, we have concluded that it is not core to Shire’s longer-term strategy

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