Argenx to Buy Unnatural Products in Deal Worth Up to $1.15 Billion

what happened

Argenx said it has agreed to acquire Unnatural Products, a biotech company based in California, for up to $1.15 billion in total. According to Dow Jones Newswires, citing the company, Argenx will pay $550 million in cash upfront, and up to $595 million more depends on reaching certain development and regulatory milestones.

Argenx already held a minority stake in Unnatural Products and will now buy the remaining shares. The boards of both companies have approved the transaction, which is expected to close by the end of the year.

why it matters

For investors, the deal matters as a step to widen Argenx's technology platform, since the company wants to combine its antibody engineering with peptide discovery. This could support the development of oral and long-acting treatments for immune-mediated diseases. The impact on Argenx shares will depend on how the market weighs the size of the payments against the prospects of the new programs.

market impact

Argenx: a broader pipeline and large deal payments shape how the company is valued

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