Novo Nordisk strikes $3.3 billion deal to buy research partner Dicerna Pharmaceuticals

Novo Nordisk (NYS:NVO) (CSE:DK:NOVO.B) said it's buying Dicerna Pharmaceuticals for $3.3 billion, or $38.25 per share in cash. Dicerna ended Wednesday at $21.28. Novo Nordisk already had a research collaboration with Dicerna, and said the deal is part of a strategy of using a broad range of technology platforms applicable across all Novo Nordisk's therapeutic focus areas. The existing collaboration between Novo Nordisk and Dicerna encompassed the exploration of more than 30 liver cell targets. Novo Nordisk said the deal will lead to an increase in research and development costs, with an estimated negative impact on operating profit growth in 2022 of around 3%.