Pfizer has entered a $43 billion merger agreement with biotechnology firm Seagen. The deal is designed to bolster the pharmaceutical giant's efforts to fight cancer by scaling up the production of a promising antibody drug. 

“Pfizer is deploying its financial resources to advance the battle against cancer, a leading cause of death worldwide with a significant impact on public health,” said CEO Dr. Albert Bourla. 

“Together, Pfizer and Seagen seek to accelerate the next generation of cancer breakthroughs and bring new solutions to patients by combining the power of Seagen’s antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) technology with the scale and strength of Pfizer’s capabilities and expertise." 

ADCs are designed to kill cancer cells and limit off-target toxicities. Bourla noted that oncology is the "largest growth driver in global medicine," and that the deal would improve Pfzier's position in the space. 

Seagen forecast $2.2 billion in revenue in 2023, up 12 percent from last year. Pfizer said the company could contribute $10 billion in risk-adjusted revenues by 2030. This would supplement the company's existing oncology division, which brought in  $12 billion in revenue in 2022 with a combination of prostate cancer and the breast cancer treatments. 

“Pfizer shares our steadfast commitment to patients, and this combination is a testament to the passion, dedication and talent of the Seagen team to achieve our mission to discover, develop, and commercialize transformative cancer medicines that make a meaningful difference in people’s lives,” said Seagan CEO David Epstein. 

Share:
More In Business
Tech leader who navigated the internet’s 90s crash weighs in on AI
Former Cisco Systems CEO John Chambers learned all about technology’s volatile highs and lows as a veteran of the internet’s early boom days during the late 1990s and the ensuing meltdown that followed the mania. And now he is seeing potential signs of the cycle repeating with another transformative technology in artificial intelligence. Chambers is trying take some of the lessons he learned while riding a wave that turned Cisco into the world's most valuable company in 2000 before a crash hammered its stock price and apply them as an investor in AI startups. He recently discussed AI's promise and perils during an interview with The Associated Press.
Load More