Horizon Pharma will spend about $800 million to buy Raptor Pharmaceutical and expand its portfolio of rare-disease treatments, a growing focus for drugmakers.
The Ireland-based drug developer said Monday that the deal will strengthen its business in the United States and provide a platform to expand in Europe and other international markets.
Raptor's portfolio includes Procysbi, which treats a rare metabolic disorder, and Quinsair, approved for managing a chronic pulmonary infection in adult patients with cystic fibrosis.
Horizon Pharma Plc. will pay $9 in cash for each share of Novato, California-based Raptor Pharmaceutical Corp. and expects to close the deal in the fourth quarter.
Drugmakers in recent years have been shifting more money to developing rare-disease treatments, as mass-market drugs lose patent protections.
