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Monday, January 12, 2015

Shire to purchase NPS for $5.2 billion to boost rare disease drugs, (NYSE: ABBV), (NASDAQ: NPSP), (NASDAQ: SHPG)

Shire Plc has agreed to purchase U.S. group NPS Pharmaceuticals Inc for $5.2 billion, the Dublin-based drugmaker's biggest acquisition yet as it seeks to strengthen its position in the lucrative field of medicines for rare diseases.The takeover continues the breakneck pace of deal-making seen last year in the pharmaceuticals sector, as companies jockey for promising assets amid a wave of new drugs emerging from research laboratories, and Shire's chief executive, Flemming Ornskov, told Reuters he would keep looking for more deals to grow the company into a biotech powerhouse.Shire will pay $46 per NPS share, representing a premium of nearly 10 percent to NPS's Friday close, the two companies said on Sunday.The move will not come as a huge surprise, since Shire was first linked to NPS in May 2014. When plans for Shire to sell itself to AbbVie Inc fell apart in October, Shire said it could take another look at previous deal prospects and reports of Shire's interest resurfaced in mid-December.

AbbVie Inc. (AbbVie) is a global research-based pharmaceuticals company. Shares of ABBV fell by 2.74% or $-1.85/share to $65.78. In the past year, the shares have traded as low as $45.50 and as high as $70.76. On average, 11445400 shares of ABBV exchange hands on a given day and today's volume is recorded at 8779934.

NPS Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NPS) is a biopharmaceutical company focused on pioneering and delivering therapies that transform the lives of patients with rare diseases worldwide. Shares of NPSP fell by 2.35% or $-1.01/share to $41.91. In the past year, the shares have traded as low as $22.11 and as high as $42.95. On average, 1585980 shares of NPSP exchange hands on a given day and today's volume is recorded at 1092752.

Shire plc (Shire) is a specialty biopharmaceutical company that focuses on meeting the needs of the specialist physician. Shares of SHPG traded higher by 1.59% or $3.4/share to $217.49. In the past year, the shares have traded as low as $141.32 and as high as $264.98. On average, 1904920 shares of SHPG exchange hands on a given day and today's volume is recorded at 1044316.



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