'Acerta Pharma underlines good position of Dutch pharma market'
Swedish/ U.K. drugmaker AstraZeneca's plan to buy a 55 percent stake in biotech company Acerta Pharma underlines the biotech sector's good position on the Dutch market, says Ruud Smits in today's Het Financieele Dagblad.
'Acerta Pharma is a prime example of the biotech sector,' according to Ruud. ' But there are some other good deals on the horizon, also in the Netherlands.' NautaDutilh assisted Acerta Pharma with the USD 4 billion sale, the biggest Dutch pharma deal (in size) ever.
Acerta Pharma, founded by two Dutch researches and based in the Netherlands and U.S., is developing drugs to treat different types of cancer and autoimmune diseases, two of the drug industry’s biggest markets. At this point, the closely held company doesn’t have any drugs on the market but its lead compound has shown promise in early clinical trials in some blood cancers.
The deal drew international media attention:
- 'AstraZeneca to Buy Stake in Acerta Pharma' (Wall Street Journal)
- 'Miljardenklapper voor Nederlands biotechbedrijf Acerta Pharma' (Het Financieele Dagblad)
