Commission pursued merger challenge to halt pharma practices it believes can stifle competition and keep drug prices high. Other large biopharma transactions may face similar challenges as FTC pursues its new merger program.

Public Company Edition: Mallinckrodt entered into a restructuring support agreement with most of its debt holders and will de-list. Also, Aprinoia no longer plans to go public in a SPAC merger and Novartis, Agenus and Aravive revealed job cuts.

The commission seeks a preliminary injunction by 31 October to block the closing of the proposed Amgen-Horizon merger. Harvard Professor Aaron Kesselheim, FTC’s expert, says Amgen could circumvent a commitment not to bundle its and Horizon's products. The Pfizer-Seagen merger agreement also gets a second request for information.

The major Japanese firm says decision prompted by desire to focus more resources on late-stage clinical candidates and core therapeutic areas, while expanding deals.