Swiss drugmaker Roche will buy US cancer drugmaker Ignyta for $1.7 billion to broaden its oncology portfolio globally, the companies said today.
Roche will pay $27 per share for Ignyta, representing a premium of about 74% to the stock's closing price yesterday, they said.
Ignyta will continue its operations in San Diego and will be responsible for the ongoing pivotal study of entrectinib, its most advanced drug.
The US company has a suite of drugs in early stage development that use gene therapy to kill off the underlying diseases that drive cancer tumour growth.
Reuters reported yesterday Ignyta was in advanced talks to sell itself, just three years after the company went public with focus on precision drugs and diagnostics.
The deal is expected to close in the first half of 2018, the companies said.
Citi advised Roche on the deal, while BofA Merrill Lynch and J.P. Morgan Securities LLC advised Ignyta.
Sidley Austin LLP and Latham & Watkins LLP were legal counsel to Roche and Ignyta, respectively.
