Ligand Pharmaceuticals Spins Off OmniAb and Merges With Avista Public Acquisition Corp. II

AbbVie Acquires Apogee Therapeutics for $10.9 Billion

June 22, 2026

Biotechnology

AbbVie entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Apogee Therapeutics in an all-cash transaction valued at approximately $10.9 billion ($135.11 per share). The deal is intended to deepen AbbVie’s immunology portfolio and expand its clinical presence in respiratory diseases, with Apogee’s lead program zurilokibart (APG777) targeting IL-13 for atopic dermatitis and its pipeline including APG273 for asthma. Closing was expected in Q3 2026, subject to customary regulatory and shareholder approvals; AbbVie later announced completion on Sept. 3, 2026.

Atlantic Coastal Acquisition Corp. II Completes Business Combination with Abpro Corporation

November 13, 2024

Biotechnology

Abpro Corporation and Atlantic Coastal Acquisition Corp. II completed their business combination and the combined company will operate as Abpro Holdings, Inc., with Abpro Corporation as a wholly owned subsidiary. The company is expected to begin trading on Nasdaq under the ticker ABP (and ABPWW for warrants); South Korea's Celltrion participated in a $5.0 million PIPE and appointed Soo Young Lee to Abpro's board.

Avista Capital Partners Acquires Taconic Biosciences

November 1, 2022

Biotechnology

Avista Capital Partners has acquired Taconic Biosciences from H.I.G. Capital. Taconic, a Rensselaer, New York–based provider of genetically engineered murine research models and related preclinical services, will leverage Avista's healthcare investing expertise to pursue organic growth and strategic acquisitions in the GEMs market.

Avista Capital Partners Invests in eMolecules

March 25, 2021

Healthcare Services

Avista Capital Partners has signed a definitive agreement to invest in eMolecules, a San Diego–based e-procurement and marketplace platform for high-value chemicals and bioreagents used in drug discovery. Financial terms were not disclosed; Avista said the investment will support eMolecules' growth and expansion into additional biopharma and academic customers.

Cambrex Acquires Avista Pharma Solutions

January 2, 2019

Pharmaceuticals

Cambrex Corporation completed the acquisition of Avista Pharma Solutions from Ampersand Capital Partners in a transaction announced November 20, 2018 and completed January 2019 (reported consideration about $252 million). The deal brings Avista’s early‑stage drug development, analytical/testing and finished dosage capabilities (sites in Longmont, CO; Durham, NC; Agawam, MA; and Edinburgh, UK) into Cambrex’s global CDMO network to expand capabilities and cross‑sell services.

Ligand Pharmaceuticals Acquires Crystal Bioscience

October 4, 2017

Biotechnology

Ligand Pharmaceuticals acquired Crystal Bioscience for $25 million in cash plus up to $10.5 million in milestones and revenue sharing, adding Crystal's chicken-derived HuMab (OmniChicken) antibody discovery platform and an in-house discovery lab. The acquisition (closing announced Oct 4, 2017) brings four fully-funded partnership programs, is expected to be accretive to revenue and earnings, and expands Ligand's OmniAb platform capabilities.