American healthcare company
Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc. , a subsidiary ofAstraZeneca , is a pharmaceutical company headquartered inBoston, Massachusetts that specializes inorphan drugs to treatrare diseases .
Its products includeeculizumab (Soliris) andravulizumab (Ultomiris), both used to treat the rare disorders ofatypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS) andparoxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH);asfotase alfa (Strensiq), used to treathypophosphatasia ;sebelipase alfa (Kanuma), used to treatlysosomal acid lipase deficiency , andandexanet alfa (Andexxa), used to stop life threatening or uncontrollable bleeding in people who are takingrivaroxaban orapixaban .[ 1]
With costs that can reach as much as $2 million per year, the drugs manufactured by Alexion are some of the most expensive drugs worldwide.[ 2]
Alexion Pharmaceuticals was founded in 1992 atScience Park inNew Haven, Connecticut by Steven Squinto and Leonard Bell, a physician atYale New Haven Hospital and assistant professor of medicine andpathology atYale School of Medicine .[ 3] [ 4]
In 2000, Alexion moved its headquarters from New Haven toCheshire, Connecticut .[ 5] [ 6]
Alexion received U.S.Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for Soliris in 2007. It was initially approved to treatparoxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria , a rare blood disorder.[ 7]
In June 2010, there was an outbreak ofhemolytic–uremic syndrome caused byshigatoxigenic and verotoxigenicEscherichia coli (EHEC) in Germany. Soliris was tested as a treatment option because of its effectiveness in treatingatypical hemolytic uremic syndrome , an illness similar to that caused by the EHEC infection.[ 8]
In January 2014, the company paidModerna $100 million for ten product options to developrare disease treatments, including forCrigler–Najjar syndrome , using Moderna'smRNA therapeutics platform;[ 9] [ 10] [ 11]
In April 2015, Bell was replaced as CEO by David Hallal.[ 12] [ 13]
In October 2015, Alexion's second drug, Strensiq (asfotase alfa ), was approved by theFood and Drug Administration . It is used to treathypophosphatasia , a rare metabolic disorder.[ 14]
In 2016, the company became a member of thePharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA).[ 15] [ 16]
Alexion moved its headquarters back to New Haven following the completion of New Haven's Downtown Crossing project in February 2016.[ 17]
In December 2016, David Brennan became interim CEO. David Anderson, formerly the CFO ofHoneywell , was appointed CFO, replacing Vikas Sinha.[ 18] [ 19]
In March 2017, Alexion namedLudwig N. Hantson as its CEO.[ 20]
In September 2017, Alexion announced it would cut its workforce by 20% and move its headquarters toBoston, Massachusetts in mid-2018.[ 4] [ 21] Smithfield, Rhode Island .[ 22] [ 23]
In July 2020, the company agreed to pay more than $21 million to settle claims that it bribed government officials in Turkey and Russia to gain approval for its drugs.[ 24] [ 25]
In July 2021,AstraZeneca acquired the company.[ 26] [ 27]
In September 2000, Alexion acquired Proliferon, a development-stage biopharmaceutical firm, for $41 million in stock. The company was renamed Alexion Antibody Technologies.[ 28]
In December 2011, Alexion acquired Montreal-based Enobia Pharma, the developer ofasfotase alfa , a drug used to treat the genetic disorderhypophosphatasia , for as much as $1.08 billion.[ 29]
In June 2015, Alexion acquiredSynageva , a maker of rare disease treatments, in an $8.4 billion stock-and-cash deal.[ 12] [ 30] [ 31] [ 13] [ 32] [ 33]
In April 2018, Alexion announced the acquisition ofWilson Therapeutics for $855 million.[ 34] [ 35]
In November 2018, the company acquired Syntimmune for $1.2 billion, expanding its rare disease offerings.[ 36] [ 37] [ 38]
In January 2020, the company acquired Achillion Pharmaceuticals for $930 million, boosting its immune system disease pipeline.[ 39] [ 40] [ 41]
In July 2020, Alexion acquiredPortola Pharmaceuticals , diversifying its hematology, neurology, and critical care commercial portfolio with Portola's Factor Xa inhibitor reversal agent.[ 42] [ 43]
Acquisition history [ edit ] The following is an illustration of the company's mergers, acquisitions,corporate spin-offs and historical predecessors:
Alexion Pharmaceuticals(Founded 1992)
Proliferon Inc(Acq 2000, restructured into Alexion Antibody Technologies Inc)
Enobia Pharma Corp(Acq 2011)
Achillion Pharmaceuticals(Acq 2019)
Alexion Pharmaceuticals
^a b "Alexion Pharmaceuticals 2020 Form 10-K Annual Report" .U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission .^ Thomas, Katie; Abelson, Reed (August 25, 2019)."The $6 Million Drug Claim" The New York Times ^ Herper, Matthew (September 5, 2012)."How A $440,000 Drug Is Turning Alexion Into Biotech's New Innovation Powerhouse" .Forbes ^a b SINGER, STEPHEN (September 12, 2017)."Alexion Exits New Haven For Boston, Agrees To Repay Millions In State Aid" .Hartford Courant ^ "Alexion Pharmaceuticals Moves Global Headquarters to New Haven" .NBC News ^ MACMILLAN, THOMAS (June 19, 2012)."Alexion Flees Cheshire For New Haven" .New Haven Independent ^ Seiffert, Don (May 6, 2015)."Everything you need to know about the $8.4B acquisition of Synageva" .American City Business Journals ^ Lang, Michelle (June 20, 2011)."Alexion tests treatment to respond to Germany's E. coli outbreak" .American City Business Journals ^ Reidy, Chris (January 13, 2014)."Alexion, Moderna announce agreement to develop messenger RNA therapeutics" .The Boston Globe Archived from the original on November 16, 2020. ^ Garade, Damien (September 13, 2016)."Ego, ambition, and turmoil: Inside one of biotech's most secretive startups" .Stat Archived from the original on November 16, 2020. ^ Garde, Damien (January 10, 2017)."Lavishly funded Moderna hits safety problems in bold bid to revolutionize medicine" .Stat Archived from the original on November 16, 2020. ^a b Dulaney, Chelsey (May 6, 2015)."Alexion to Buy Synageva for $8.4 Billion" The Wall Street Journal ^a b Cyran, Robert (May 6, 2015)."Alexion Puts Its Soaring Stock Price to Good Use" The New York Times ^ "FDA Approves Strensiq™ (asfotase alfa) for Treatment of Patients with Perinatal-, Infantile- and Juvenile-Onset Hypophosphatasia (HPP)" (Press release).Business Wire . October 23, 2015.^ Helfand, Carly (July 18, 2016)."Teva wins controversial PhRMA bid despite protests from branded rivals" .FiercePharma ^ "PhRMA Welcomes Five New Member Companies" (Press release).PR Newswire . July 15, 2016.^ Hathaway, Bill (February 29, 2016)."Alexion homecoming is a symbol of biomedical growth in New Haven" .Yale University ^ "Alexion's Board of Directors Announces New Leadership Appointments" (Press release).Business Wire . December 12, 2016.^ Rosen, Jon (December 12, 2016)."Alexion Pharmaceuticals announces new leadership appointments" .WTNH ^ Grover, Natalie (March 27, 2017)."Alexion Pharma names former Baxalta chief Ludwig Hantson CEO" .Reuters ^ Hufford, Austen; Rockoff, Jonathan D.; De Avila, Joseph (September 12, 2017)."Alexion to Cut Workforce by 20%, Shift Headquarters to Boston" The Wall Street Journal ^ Bramson, Kate (September 12, 2017)."Drug maker Alexion to close R.I. plant" .The Providence Journal ^ Krause, Nancy (September 12, 2017)."Alexion closing RI manufacturing facility, 250 losing jobs" .WPRI-TV ^ Tokar, Dylan; Prang, Allison (July 2, 2020)."Alexion to Pay More Than $21 Million to Settle Bribery Claims" The Wall Street Journal ^ "SEC Charges Alexion Pharmaceuticals With FCPA Violations" (Press release).U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission . July 2, 2020.^ Higgins-Dunn, Noah (July 21, 2021)."AstraZeneca closes mega $39B Alexion buyout despite antitrust fears, making a splash in rare diseases" .FiercePharma ^ "Acquisition of Alexion completed" (Press release).AstraZeneca . July 21, 2021.^ "BRIEFLY" .Hartford Courant ^ Finn, Ryan (December 29, 2011)."Alexion to Pay as Much as $1.08 Billion to Buy Enobia Pharma" Bloomberg News ^ "Alexion Completes Acquisition of Synageva" (Press release).Business Wire . June 23, 2015.^ Weisman, Robert (July 12, 2015)."How Genzyme became a source of biotech executives" .The Boston Globe ^ Seiffert, Don (June 23, 2015)."Alexion buys Lexington rare drug maker Synageva for $8.4B" .American City Business Journals ^ "Large Pharma Acquisition -- Alexion Buys Synageva for $8.4 Billion" .IndustryWeek Agence France-Presse . May 6, 2015.^ Hirschler, Ben (April 11, 2018)."Biotech M&A rolls on as Alexion snaps up Wilson for $855 million" .Reuters ^ Arnott, Karen (April 11, 2018)."Alexion to Acquire Wilson Therapeutics for $855M" .Mary Ann Liebert ^ "Alexion Completes Acquisition of Syntimmune" (Press release).Business Wire . November 2, 2018.^ "Alexion to Acquire Syntimmune for Up to $1.2B, Expanding Rare Disease Pipeline" .Mary Ann Liebert ^ Joseph, Saumya Sibi; Maddipatla, Manogna (September 26, 2018)."Alexion to buy biotech firm Syntimmune for up to $1.2 billion" .Reuters ^ "Alexion Completes Acquisition of Achillion" (Press release).Business Wire . January 28, 2020.^ George, John (January 29, 2020)."$930 million sale of Blue Bell biopharma firm finalized" .American City Business Journals ^ Taylor, Nick Paul (October 16, 2019)."Alexion inks deal to acquire Achillion for $930M upfront" .FierceBiotech ^ "Alexion Completes Acquisition of Portola" (Press release).Business Wire . July 2, 2020.^ DeAngelis, Allison (May 5, 2020)."Alexion pays $1.4B for Bay Area biotech in bid to double commercial portfolio" .American City Business Journals
Products Predecessors and People
Current Former
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US$6.069 billion (2020)
US$603 million (2020)
