Pfizer has agreed to acquire Anacor Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company developing and commercializing small-molecule drugs from its boron chemistry platform, for $99.25 per Anacor share, in cash, for a total transaction value, net of cash, of approximately $5.2 billion, which assumes the conversion of Anacor's outstanding convertible notes. The boards of directors of both companies have unanimously approved the transaction.

Anacor's flagship asset, crisaborole, a differentiated non-steroidal topical PDE4 inhibitor with anti-inflammatory properties, is currently under review by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of mild-to-moderate atopic dermatitis, commonly referred to as eczema. Anacor also holds the rights to Kerydin, a topical treatment for onychomycosis (toenail fungus) that is distributed and commercialized by Sandoz Inc. in the US. Kerydin was approved by the FDA in 2014. . In July 2014, Anacor entered into an exclusive agreement with Sandoz to which PharmaDerm, the branded dermatology division of Sandoz, distributes and commercializes Kerydinin the United State

Under the terms of the merger agreement, a subsidiary of Pfizer will commence a cash tender offer to purchase all of the outstanding shares of Anacor common stock for $99.25 per share in cash. The closing of the tender offer is subject to customary closing conditions, including US antitrust clearance and the tender of a majority of the outstanding shares of Anacor common stock. The merger agreement contemplates that Pfizer will acquire any shares of Anacor that are not tendered into the offer through a second-step merger, which will be completed promptly following the closing of the tender offer. Pfizer expects to complete the acquisition in the third-quarter 2016.

Source: Pfizer