Watson/Actavis
US generics manufacturer Watson Pharmaceuticals (Watson) received approval from the European Commission (EC) on 5 October 2012 for its merger with the Switzerland-based Actavis Group, creating the third largest global generics company.

The EC examined the effects the proposed merger might have on the markets for a number of drugs such as antidepressants and antihypertensives, in particular in Denmark, Sweden and the UK. The EC concluded that there would remain ‘a sufficient number of credible and strong competitors’ and therefore there would be no threat to competitiveness in the European Economic Area from the merger.

The merger dramatically enhances Watson’s market presence in the US and in key established and emerging markets in Western Europe, Central and Eastern Europe and Russia. This fits well with Watson’s stated objective of achieving approximately 40% of generics revenues from outside of the US.

ANI Pharma/BioSante
Privately-held brand-name and generics drugmaker ANI Pharmaceuticals (ANI) and troubled US-based BioSante Pharmaceuticals (BioSante) announced on 4 October 2012 that they had entered into a definitive all-stock merger.

BioSante has been suffering since two phase III efficacy studies for its blockbuster candidate LibiGel (testosterone gel) failed to prove the drug was any better than placebo. Despite the disappointing results the biotech company is still carrying out safety studies on the product and is also developing a protocol for two new phase III efficacy trials for LibiGel. LibiGel is in development for the treatment of female sexual dysfunction, specifically, hypoactive sexual desire disorder in menopausal women.

Upon completion of the merger ANI stockholders will own approximately 53% of the combined company’s shares, with former BioSante stockholders holding on to the remaining 47%. The combined company will be called ANI Pharmaceuticals and will operate under the leadership of the ANI management team.

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