Pfizer acquires Array Biopharma, valued at USD 11.4 billion

US pharmaceutical giant Pfizer on Monday announced the acquisition of Array BioPharma, a biotechnology firm that specializes in cancer drugs, the latest in a long list of biotech mergers in recent years.

In a statement, Pfizer said it offered USD 48 per share in cash for Array, putting an USD 11.4 billion value on the company.

"The board of directors of both companies have approved the merger," Pfizer said.

The proposed acquisition "sets the stage to create a potentially industry-leading franchise for colorectal cancer alongside Pfizer's existing expertise in breast and prostate cancers," Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla said.

Array's portfolio includes two drugs, Braftovi (encorafenib) and Mektovi (binimetinib), that when combined are effective in treating BRAF-mutant melanoma.

The combination of the two drugs was authorized in September by the European Commission, several months after the US Federal Drug Administration gave its approval.

Besides melanomas, BRAF mutations occur in up to 15 per cent of colorectal cancers, Pfizer said.

The transaction shows how big pharmaceutical companies are looking to biotech acquisitions for growth, often buying them for astronomical sums. In early January, Bristol-Myers-Squibb acquired Celgene in a USD 74 billion mega merger.

Last year, Sanofi scooped up Bioverativ, which specializes in hemophilia treatments, for USD 11.6 billion and forked out USD 3.9 billion euros from Ablynx of Belgium.

Novartis for its part picked up AveXis, which specializes in rare genetic maladies, for USD 8.7 billion.