The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is delaying the closure of Amgen's acquisition of Horizon Therapeutics, as both companies now aim to complete the merger by mid-December 2023. The FTC alleges that Amgen could use its drug portfolio to reinforce monopolistic positions for Horizon’s Tepezza and Krystexxa treatments where there are few competitors in these spaces. A federal court placed a temporary restraining order on May 16, preventing the two companies from proceeding with the deal before September 15. The agency also highlighted concerns over Amgen's alleged history of bundling drugs in payer negotiations. If denied, current litigation schedules will allow for finalization by year-end.
Keywords: Federal Trade Commission (FTC), lawsuit, acquisition, Amgen, Horizon Therapeutics
Amidst delays due to regulatory hurdles caused by a lawsuit filed against it by the FTC regarding its pending acquisition of Horizon Therapeutics, Amgen has stated that it remains committed to closing the transaction and believes that shareholders will benefit greatly from combining resources with one another. Analysts have expressed doubt about whether or not this deal will succeed given recent antitrust scrutiny within biopharma circles concerning consolidation trends among major players in this industry segment who may be seeking market dominance at any cost rather