Johnson & Johnson (J&J) has confirmed that is engaged in preliminary discussions with Actelion Pharmaceuticals, an Allschwil, Basel, Switzerland-headquartered biopharmaceutical company, regarding a potential transaction. Acetlion also confirmed that it had been approached by J&J regarding a possible transaction. 

In a statement released by J&J, the company said that “[t]here can be no assurance any transaction will result from these discussions. Johnson & Johnson does not intend to make any additional comments regarding these discussions unless and until it is appropriate to do so, or a formal agreement has been reached.”

Actelion is focused on the field of pulmonary arterial hypertension and its portfolio of therapies in that field includes oral, inhaled, and intravenous medications. Although not available in all countries, Actelion has treatments approved by health authorities for specialist diseases, including Type 1 Gaucher disease, Niemann-Pick type C disease, digital ulcers in patients suffering from systemic sclerosis, and mycosis fungoides in patients with cutaneous T-cell lymphoma.

Actelion was founded in late 1997 and has more than 2,400 professionals covering key markets around the world, including in Europe, the US, Japan, China, Russia, and Mexico.

Source: Johnson & Johnson and Actelion Pharmaceuticals