Pfizer to buy Anacor Pharmaceuticals for $5.2bn

Pfizer has agreed to buy Anacor Pharmaceuticals for $5.2bn (€4.6bn), gaining control of an experimental treatment for eczema in its first deal since walking away from a $160bn takeover of botox maker Allergan.

Pfizer will pay $99.25 in cash for each Anacor share, the companies said in a statement yesterday.

The transaction, which represents about a 55% premium to Friday’s closing price, is scheduled to be completed in the third quarter and may start adding to Pfizer’s earnings in 2018.