Actelion re-enters transaction talks with Johnson & Johnson

Frankfurt

SWISS biotech company Actelion has turned back to prospective bidder Johnson & Johnson (J&J) for exclusive talks about a "strategic transaction", in an about-turn that appears to sideline rival suitor Sanofi.

Actelion said in a brief statement on Wednesday that it was in exclusive negotiations with the US health care giant but that there could be "no assurance any transaction will result from these discussions", declining to comment further.