BioPharma, Pharma

Roche’s $1.7B precision medicine acquisition of Ignyta targets cancers with rare mutations

Ignyta's lead molecule, entrectinib, is currently in Phase 2 clinical trials targeting rare mutations in non small cell lung cancer and solid tumors. 

Give and take concept on black backgroundSwiss pharma giant Roche has given itself a pricey holiday gift and deepened its oncology product portfolio with its $1.7 billion acquisition of immuno-oncology business Ignyta. Based in San Diego, the company tests, identifies, and treat patients with cancers that come with rare mutations.

Ignyta’s lead molecule, entrectinib, is currently in Phase 2 clinical trials targeting rare mutations in non small cell lung cancer and solid tumors.  The deal is expected to be completed in the second half of 2018

The acquisition comes at a time when Roche’s blockbuster drug for breast cancer, Herceptin, is facing increased competition from the biosimilar Ogivri from Mylan and other rivals, The Wall Street Journal observed. Herceptin generated $6.9 billion in revenue for Roche last year.

Biopharma companies with cancer treatments, especially those with commercial-ready drugs, have been a hot target for M&A deals this year. Takeda Pharmaceuticals agreed to acquire ARIAD Pharmaceuticals for $5.1 billion. The deal gives Takeda ARIAD’s leukemia drug Iclusig. Ipsen’s acquisition of Merrimack Pharmaceuticals’ oncology assets for roughly $1 billion adds Merrimack’s recently approved therapeutic for metastatic pancreatic cancer, which was approved in 2015.

Photo: crazydiva, Getty Images

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