US judge hearing fight over Amgen deal for Horizon eyes September trial (updated)

Horizon Therapeutics

23/05/2023 16:45

(Adds details on when ruling is expected in paragraph two;
background in paragraphs 3 and 4)
       CHICAGO, May 23 (Reuters) - The judge who will decide if
Amgen  AMGN.O  can go forward with its $27.8 billion purchase of
Horizon Therapeutics  HZNP.O  on Tuesday said he was considering
an evidentiary hearing on the matter in September.
    Judge John Kness said he would likely take about four weeks
after the hearing ends to make a ruling. The case is being heard
in federal court in Chicago.
        The Federal Trade Commission 
    filed a lawsuit
     on May 16 aimed at stopping the transaction in a rare move
to block a large pharmaceutical deal. 
  
        The FTC said it opposed the deal because of concerns
Amgen would leverage its big selling drugs to pressure insurance
companies and pharmacy benefit managers to give favorable terms
for Horizon's two key products - the fast-growing thyroid eye
disease treatment Tepezza and gout drug Krystexxa.
  

        
  


 (Reporting by David Thomas; Writing by Diane Bartz; Editing by
Mark Porter)
 ((Diane.Bartz@thomsonreuters.com;))