As Biogen Idec suggests it is for sale, several bidders could be interested
As soon as US biotechnology firm Biogen Idec announced that it might be for sale, several potential buyers were identified, but Ireland's Elan may hold a trump card in that it has options to acquire or sell the other 50% interest in the multiple sclerosis drug Tysabri (natalizumab) collaboration with the Massachusetts-based company in the event of a change of ownership.
Given the significant interest that Big Pharma has shown for biotechnology - as evidenced by Anglo-Swedish drug major AstraZeneca's $15.6 billion buy of MedImmune - equal to 11 times annual sales (Marketletters passim), possible contenders for Biogen Idec include worldwide giant Pfizer, and fellow US-based Johnson & Johnson, as well as European drug majors such as GlaxoSmithKline, Sanofi-Aventis, Novartis and Roche.
Prompted by expression of interest from Carl Icahn
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