Roche spending spree continues with Mirus Bio
Swiss pharmaceutical and diagnostics group Roche says it will buy the United States gene therapy company Mirus Bio Corporation for $125 million (SFr126.7 million).
The announcement comes a day after Roche launched a $43.7 billion takeover bid for Genentech, the largest takeover bid by a Swiss concern.
Wisconsin-based Mirus Bio is developing RNAi, or gene silencing, a technology that uses mechanisms within the body to target and “turn off” certain genes associated with cancer and other diseases.
Roche said it would maintain an RNAi research site in the US after the takeover. The move is expected to be completed during the second half of this year, Roche said.
Last year Roche acquired rights for the gene-silencing technology of biotechnology company Alnylam Pharmaceuticals as part of a deal potentially worth $1 billion.
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