LSIPR Newsletter 04:14


Mallinckrodt picks up Acthar in Questcor merger


DUBLIN, IRELAND


Dublin-based Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals has announced it will buy US biopharmaceutical company Questcor Pharmaceuticals for $5.6 billion.


As part of the deal, which is expected to close in the third quarter of this year, Mallinckrodt will acquire Questcor’s lead product Acthar (corticotropin).


Te multiple sclerosis drug comprises most of Questcor’s net sales, which totalled $799 million in 2013.


Acthar has been approved by the US FDA for 19 indications, many related to the treatment of autoimmune and inflammatory diseases.


Mallinckrodt said it expects Acthar will be a “strong complement” to its portfolio of specialty pharmaceuticals, which it added


to with its $1.4 billion purchase of Cadence Pharmaceuticals in February.


Mallinckrodt’s chief executive Mark Trudeau said of the transaction: “We will … have an increasingly diversified specialty pharmaceuticals portfolio, which will include novel therapeutics for pain management, as well as central nervous system, renal, rheumatologic and other autoimmune and inflammatory disorders.”


Don Bailey, chief executive of Questcor, said: “I strongly believe Mallinckrodt is the right partner to support the continued growth of Acthar in the highly specialised markets that we serve.”


He added: “Questcor commercial operations will function as a separate business unit within Mallinckrodt and, given the complementary nature of our businesses and product portfolios, we expect this to be a seamless transaction.” n


IN BRIEF


Schiff Hardin expands IP litigation team


Schiff Hardin LLP has expanded its IP group with the hiring of Imron Aly as a partner.


Aly will co-lead the pharmaceuticals and biologics patent litigation team at the firm’s Chicago office. He focuses on patent infringement and trade secret litigation, with an emphasis on pharmaceuticals, medical implants and devices.


Before joining Schiff Hardin, Aly was a partner at Winston & Strawn LLP in Chicago.


Stephen Hankins, leader of Schiff Hardin’s IP group, said Aly’s “diverse practice” and expertise in pharmaceutical and medical device litigation would make him a perfect complement to the team.


NEWS 9


www.lifesciencesipreview.com


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24