Covis Acquires Global Rights to Eklira and Duaklir from AstraZeneca

Azurity Pharmaceuticals Acquires Covis Pharma

March 14, 2025

Pharmaceuticals

Azurity Pharmaceuticals has completed its acquisition of Covis Group S.à r.l. (Covis Pharma) from existing investors, making Covis a wholly owned subsidiary of Azurity. The deal expands Azurity's therapeutic portfolio across multiple complex dosage forms and broadens its global footprint, with the combined company serving 50+ countries and employing more than 800 colleagues.

AstraZeneca Acquires Icosavax

December 12, 2023

Biotechnology

AstraZeneca has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Icosavax, a Seattle-based clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company, in a cash tender offer valuing the deal at approximately $0.8bn upfront and up to $1.1bn including contingent payments. The acquisition brings Icosavax's virus‑like particle (VLP) platform and Phase III‑ready combination RSV/hMPV vaccine candidate IVX‑A12 into AstraZeneca's Vaccines & Immune Therapies late‑stage pipeline to strengthen respiratory vaccine capabilities for older adults and vulnerable populations.

Zevra Therapeutics Acquires Acer Therapeutics

November 20, 2023

Pharmaceuticals

Zevra Therapeutics completed the acquisition of Acer Therapeutics in a stock-and-contingent-value-rights transaction, bringing the FDA-approved product OLPRUVA and clinical-stage candidate EDSIVO into Zevra's portfolio and transitioning Zevra to a commercial-stage rare disease company. The deal included Zevra's purchase of Acer's senior secured debt and issuance of approximately 2.96 million shares plus CVRs (up to $76 million), and was followed by a registered direct offering to a healthcare-focused investment fund.

Ipsen Acquires Albireo Pharma

January 9, 2023

Biotechnology

Ipsen has agreed to acquire Albireo Pharma in a cash tender offer of $42.00 per share plus a contingent value right (CVR) tied to FDA approval in biliary atresia, in a transaction intended to expand Ipsen's Rare Disease portfolio. The acquisition brings Albireo's approved pediatric liver drug Bylvay (odevixibat) and a pipeline of bile-acid modulators into Ipsen's global R&D and commercial capabilities.

Apollo Funds to Acquire Covis Pharma from Cerberus

February 6, 2020

Pharmaceuticals

Funds managed by affiliates of Apollo Global Management have agreed to acquire Covis Pharma BV from an affiliate of Cerberus Capital Management. Terms were not disclosed; the transaction is expected to close by the end of Q1 2020 and aims to accelerate Covis's global expansion and build out its respiratory and specialty pharma franchises.

Eli Lilly Acquires Dermira for $1.1 Billion

January 10, 2020

Biotechnology

Eli Lilly agreed to acquire Dermira, Inc. in an all-cash transaction valued at approximately $1.1 billion ($18.75 per share). The deal adds Dermira's Phase 3 IL-13 antibody candidate lebrikizumab and marketed dermatology product QBREXZA to Lilly's immunology and dermatology portfolio and is expected to close in Q1 2020.