FTC sues to block Amgen’s $27.8 billion deal for Horizon Therapeutics -statement

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The U.S. Federal Trade Commission said on Tuesday that it would sue to stop Amgen Inc’s $27.8 billion deal to buy Horizon Therapeutics Plc.

The deal, which was announced in December 2022, would give Amgen two fast-growing drugs, the thyroid eye disease treatment Tepezza and gout treatment Krystexxa. Amgen hopes they can act as a bulwark against competition for its blockbuster arthritis drug Enbrel.

Furthermore, other key drugs in its portfolio, such as psoriasis therapy Otezla, face loss of patents over the next few years.

(Reporting by Diane Bartz; editing by Tim Ahmann)

tagreuters.com2023binary_LYNXMPEJ4F0OS-VIEWIMAGE