Japan’s Eisai Buys MGI Pharma for $3.9 Billion

Japan's drug maker, Eisai Co. will buy U.S. biopharmaceutical company MGI Pharma Inc.

The price – $3.9 billion.

Eisai will pay $41 each for all outstanding MGI shares in an all-cash transaction.

Eisai's patent on its top selling Aricept Alzheimer's disease treatment will expire in 2010.

The company has been keen on expanding, even by buying up research in cancer

treatment.

Eisai also bought Morphotek Inc. of the U.S. in April and four cancer drugs from Ligand Pharmaceuticals Inc. last year.

Japanese drug makers have money…and their patents are expiring.

People are still getting older and the medicines will be needed for a long time to come.

How is it that drug companies can make so much off of sick people?

Isn't there something wrong with this picture? 

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