Forest Laboratories agreed to acquire Clinical Data, a specialty pharmaceutical company, for $1.2 billion. The transaction reflects a price of $30 per share in cash plus contingent consideration of up to $6 per share that may be paid upon achievement of certain commercial milestones related to its depression treatment Viibryd (vilazodone hydrochloride). Forest will finance the transaction with existing cash. The transaction was approved by the boards of both companies and is expected to be completed in the second quarter of 2011, subject to customary closing conditions.

Sanofi aventis agreed to acquire Genzyme for $74 per share in cash, or approximately $20.1 billion.

Gilead Sciences, a biotechnology company, agreed to acquire the biotechnology company Calistoga for $375 million. Calistoga could earn up to an additional $225 million in milestone payments. Gilead anticipates that the deal will close in the second quarter of 2011, subject to the satisfaction of certain closing conditions.

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