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[Image omitted] - (http://www.fiercepharma.com/story/gi-dealmaking-pays-valeant-actavis-same-day-fda-nods-ibs/2015-05-28)
Valeant CEO J. Michael Pearson
When it comes to go-aheads in irritable bowel syndrome, the FDA was busy Wednesday, approving the indication for a pair of drugs. And now, it looks as if recent M&A moves to acquire those drugs are about to pay off for Valeant ($VRX) and Actavis ($ACT).
To combat the malady, IBS with diarrhea, the agency green-lighted Xifaxan --which Valeant nabbed earlier this year with its $11 billion Salix buy--and Actavis' Viberzi, acquired as a candidate drug when pickup Forest Labs sealed its $1.1 billion deal for Furiex last July. Both could see some serious sales upswing with the decision.
In the case of Xifaxan, Salix...