Forest to acquire Clinical Data

NEW YORK — Drug maker Forest Labs plans to acquire the developer of a recently approved antidepressant.

Forest announced that it would pay $1.2 billion, or $30 per share, to acquire Clinical Data, saying the acquisition would give it control of the drug Viibryd (vilazodone hydrochloride), a treatment for major depressive disorder in adults that won Food and Drug Administration approval last month. The agreement also includes up to $6 per share in addition for milestones related to Viibryd.

“We are pleased to enter into this agreement with Clinical Data,” Forest chairman, president and CEO Howard Solomon said. “Depression is a debilitating disease that affects the daily lives of millions of patients. We believe that we are uniquely positioned to bring Viibryd to market in light of our long and successful experience of clinical development and expertise in the antidepressant market.”