India’s leading pharmaceutical company, Sun Pharmaceutical Industries, has announced the acquisition of Checkpoint Therapeutics, a U.S.-based biotechnology firm specialising in oncology. The deal is set to expand Sun Pharma’s oncology portfolio and strengthen its global presence in the rapidly growing cancer treatment market.
Last year, the company signed a licensing agreement with Italian-Swiss firm Philogen for its anticancer drug Fibromun.
This deal is expected to be completed in the second quarter of 2025. It will add UNLOXCYT, a U.S. FDA-approved treatment for advanced skin cancer, to Sun Pharma’s global franchise. This agreement is done at $355 million or over Rs 3,000 crore.
Dilip Shanghvi, Chairman & Managing Director of Sun Pharma, said, “The acquisition further bolsters our innovative portfolio in onco-derm therapy.”
James Oliviero, President and Chief Executive Officer of Checkpoint, said, “This transaction will maximise value for our stockholders and provide accelerated access to UNLOXCYT in the United States, Europe and other markets worldwide.”
Checkpoint, founded in 2014, has been focused on developing targeted therapies that harness the immune system to fight cancer. This acquisition marks an exciting new chapter for Sun Pharma, positioning it as a leader in the oncology space.
With this merger, Sun Pharma is poised to drive further growth and deliver advanced therapies to patients worldwide.
This deal has been finalised amid changes in the U.S. tariff policy. Let’s see how increased tariffs impact the merger.
