Potential FTC Crackdown Looms Large over Merck’s Potential Seagen Acquisition

The threat of antitrust intervention weighs heavily over reports that Merck is inching closer to its potential acquisition of Seagen. The potential deal would cost Merck over $40 billion, the largest biopharma acquisition since Amgen purchased Allergan three years ago to the tune of $63 billion. Unlike that purchase, however, this deal would be scrutinized by a Federal Trade Commission (FTC) headed by the Democrats.

According to Angus Liu, “The current FTC has indicated that further consolidation among large biopharma firms in general deserves a more careful look, drawing a link between pharma mergers and rising drug prices. It’s looking beyond simple product overlaps in its reviews, officials have said.”

To read more, click here.

(Source: Fierce Pharma, July 7th, 2022)