FTC allows Amgen to move forward with $27.8 billion Horizon Therapeutics acquisition

The Federal Trade Commission on Friday said it has reached a deal with drug giant Amgen to allow the company’s $27.8 billion purchase of Horizon Therapeutics to move forward. 

The FTC filed a lawsuit in May seeking to block the acquisition, arguing that the deal would stifle competition in the pharmaceutical industry. But the agency this week temporarily suspended that suit, which allowed it to consider whether to settle the case. 

The new agreement prohibits Amgen from “bundling” two of Horizon’s blockbuster drugs: thyroid eye disease therapy Tepezza, and Krystexxa, a gout medicine. That practice involves offering rebates or discounts on its existing products to pressure insurers and pharmacy benefit managers into favoring the Horizon products.

Shares of Horizon rose nearly 3% in premarket trading Friday. Amgen’s stock edged up slightly.

A spokesperson for Amgen said the two companies expect to close the acquisition early in the fourth quarter of this year. They added that Amgen has no “reason, ability, or intention” to bundle Horizon’s two fast-growing medications.

A Horizon spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Amgen first moved to buy Horizon in December 2022 in an effort to gain access to the latter’s rare disease assets, but buyout was quick to attract regulatory and political scrutiny for its potential antitrust issues.

Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., in a letter to FTC Chairwoman Lina Khan asked the regulator to “heavily scrutinize” the acquisition and the then-pending merger of Indivior and Opian. She warned the deals could lead to higher prices.

The FTC eventually heeded Warren’s warnings and filed its lawsuit. In its filing, the FTC raised concerns about “cross-market rebating and bundling” by Amgen and the potential for its strong assets to be leveraged to secure better formulary placements for Horizon’s treatments.

This story is developing. Please check back for updates.