Sanofi looking to spend CHF 30.5bn on Actelion

Reports emerged on Friday that French drugmaker Sanofi was in advanced talks to acquire Swiss peer Actelion, with the possibility of a deal being announced within a week.

Bloomberg cited sources “with knowledge of the matter” as saying the companies were discussing a price of around $275 per Actelion share, which could include a contingent value right for Actelion shareholders.

A CVR would allow those shareholders to enjoy future payments based on the performance of certain pipeline drugs while under Sanofi’s stewardship.

That price would value Actelion at around CHF 30.5bn, or $29.6bn.

The negotiations were focused on the shape any CVR would take, and which drugs it might include.

Actelion’s experimental treatment for relapsing multiple sclerosis, Ponesimod, was one of the drugs being considered, Bloomberg said.

Any deal was yet to be reached, with the sources saying the talks could still collapse.

Neither Sanofi or Actelion responded to the reports, but investors certainly were - at 1449 GMT, Actelion’s share price was up 8.81%, while Sanofi’s was last down 2.43%.