Nov. 17 at 8:25 PM
Johnson & Johnson announced a
$3.1 billion deal to acquire Halda Therapeutics, a private cancer biotech developing HLD-0915, a Phase 1/2 prostate-cancer drug that uses a “hold and kill” mechanism. The acquisition comes amid a surge in biotech M&A as major pharma companies race to strengthen their pipelines. Biotech stocks have rallied sharply, helped by reduced political pressure on drug pricing and aggressive bidding across the sector.
Recent deals — including Merck’s
$9.2 billion purchase of Cidara and Pfizer’s acquisition of Metsera despite competition from Novo Nordisk — illustrate rising premiums and intense competition. The XBI has gained over 27% since September, far outpacing the broader market. J&J shares, up more than 37% this year, rose again on the announcement. The company expects the transaction to dilute 2026 adjusted EPS by
$0.15.
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