Novartis acquires US pharma research firm Selexys Pharmaceuticals

Swiss-based pharmaceuticals giant Novartis said Monday it was acquiring Selexys Pharmaceuticals Corp., a US research lab in blood and inflammatory disorders, in a deal costing up to $665 million (627 million euros). Selexys specialises in sickle cell disease, an inherited form of anaemia that is most common among people of African descent. In a statement, Novartis said it exercised rights to buy the company after seeing results from a large trial into a drug to treat pain for people with the disease.