Ipsen inks a string of deals in expansion effort

France's Ipsen is buying out Tercica [1] in a $404 million deal, one of three new pacts designed to make Ipsen a billion-dollar a year player in the U.S. Ipsen will pay $9 a share for every share of Tercica it doesn't already own. That's more than double Tercica's $4.41 a share close yesterday. Like a lot of developers, Tercica's been losing money. But the biotech recently launched Somatuline for acromegaly, a pituitary gland disorder.

In a separate deal, Ipsen is buying out Vernalis' U.S. subsidiary, gaining the North American rights to Apokyn. And it inked a deal to acquire Octagen's OBI-1, which is being developed to treat hemophilia. The Octagen deal includes $10.5 million upfront and up to $26 million in milestones.

Taken together, Ipsen says the new acquisitions will position Ipsen to become a significant commercial player in the U.S.

- read Ipsen's release [2] for more

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