Grifols to acquire Talecris

BARCELONA, Spain Spanish healthcare holding company Grifols will buy U.S.-based biotherapeutic products company Talecris for more than $3 billion, Grifols said Monday.

Grifols will acquire Talecris for $3.4 billion in cash and newly issued shares of Grifols stock. Grifols said the acquisition would create a vertically integrated and diversified international producer of plasma proteins.

“The acquisition of Talecris furthers our vision to better serve patients and healthcare professionals with innovative products, a strong clinical research capability and new research into recombinant therapies,” Grifols CEO Victor Grifols said. “We look forward to combining the strengths of both companies to improve the quality of the lives of patients around the world, while positioning the enlarged group for long-term profitable growth.”

Grifols also said the combination of the two companies would result in a range of products for neurological disorders, immune diseases and others, along with an enhanced research and development pipeline.