News
Report claims FTC may block Grifols acquisition of Talecris
North Carolina News Observer
Federal antitrust regulators may seek to block the $3.6 billion acquisition of Talecris Biotheapeutics by Grifols of Spain, according to a report Tuesday that cited an anonymous source.
The Deal Pipeline reported that the Federal Trade Commission is preparing a lawsuit to stop the union, citing an unnamed antitrust lawyer in Washington. The FTC, which blocked a previous buyout of Talecris, is again worried that a takeover would hurt competition in the market for medicines made from blood plasma, and lead to higher prices for patients, according to the report.
Talecris manufactures Prolastin-C, the augmentation therapy for Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency.
The Deal Pipeline is an information service that tracks acquisitions for investors and other clients.
An FTC spokesman declined to comment. Both companies said they had no knowledge of FTC plans to try to block the transaction.
