FTC Approves Pfizer Acquisition of Hospira

Pfizer expects to acquire Hospira early next month after receiving Federal Trade Commission clearance to finish the $17 billion deal.

The FTC clearance is contingent upon Pfizer divesting four U.S. sterile injectable assets — acetylcysteine, clindamycin, voriconazole and melphalan.

The European Commission cleared the deal earlier this month with stipulations that Pfizer divest its Remicade (infliximab) biosimilar and five injectables, including voriconazole. It also received an unconditional OK from Brazil.

New York-based Pfizer announced plans to acquire Hospira in February. The merger greatly expands Pfizer’s branded injectables portfolio by adding Hospira’s generic sterile injectables, and allows Hospira to expand its commercial reach beyond the U.S. and European markets.

In addition, the deal is expected to benefit the drugmakers’ biosimilar development programs. Hospira has several biosimilars on the market outside of the U.S. — John Bechtel