J&J’s Actelion acquisition expected to close this quarter

NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. — Johnson & Johnson confirmed Tuesday during its 2017 fiscal first-quarter earnings report that it expects its $30 billion acquisition of Actelion to close this quarter.

“The public tender offer for Actelion has been declared successful based on the number of shares tendered and regulatory approval has been obtained in six of seven jurisdictions in which the company filed for such approval, with antitrust approval from the European Commission pending.”

In fact, J&J stated is now including the estimated impact of the Actelion transaction in its financial guidance.

“The pending acquisition of Actelion demonstrates our ongoing commitment to bringing innovation to patients with significant unmet needs, and provides a unique opportunity for us to expand our portfolio with leading, differentiated in-market medicines and promising late-stage products,” said Alex Gorsky, J&J’s chairman and CEO. “We look forward to the associates from Actelion joining the Johnson & Johnson Family of Cos.”

Drug Store News reported J&J would buy Actelion on Jan. 26.

Overall, J&J achieved sales of $17.8 billion in its fiscal first quarter, including $9.4 billion in the United States. In its pharmaceutical segement, Stelara, Prezcobix, Darzalex and Xarelto were among the pharmaceuticals the company highlighted as having strong quarters, with Concerta suffering from lower U.S. sales due to a generic entry.

J&J also stated during the earning conference call that during its fiscal first quarter, it submitted a supplemental New Drug Application to the Food and Drug Administration for Imbruvica (ibrutinib) for the treatment of chronic Graft-Versus-Host-Disease after failure of one or more lines of systemic therapy.