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Sobi Set To Grow Hematology Franchise With $1.7bn CTI Biopharma Buy

Deal Prices Target Company At Big Premium

 
• By Mandy Jackson

Sobi plans to capitalize on the complimentary expertise at CTI Biopharma to together boost sales of the latter firm’s myelofibrosis drug Vonjo and enhance the Swedish pharma firm’s overall growth.

Merger and Acquisitions, partnership or work together
Sobi will merge CTI's Vonjo into its growing hematology franchise • Source: Shutterstock

Swedish Orphan Biovitrum AB (Sobi) said on 10 May that it will pay $1.7bn to acquire CTI BioPharma Corp., buying an immediate source of revenue growth in the form of CTI’s Vonjo (pacritinib), approved in the US last year to treat myelofibrosis patients with severe thrombocytopenia. The product will also help Sobi grow its overall revenue by adding to its hematology business, already its top-selling franchise.

Sobi president and CEO Guido Oelkers said during a same-day call with analysts and investors that Vonjo represents a “significant accelerator of our growth prospects near term

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• By Mandy Jackson

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