Talecris Biotherapeutics, which is awaiting word from U.S. antitrust regulators on its $4 billion takeover by a Spanish company, reported stronger quarterly results.

Revenue, mostly sales of drugs made from blood plasma that treat autoimmune diseases and other ailments, rose to $406.7 million, up 7 percent from a year ago.

Net income excluding some charges was $58.5 million, up 29 percent.

Talecris is the Triangle's largest biotechnology company and employs more than 2,200 people locally, mostly at a Clayton drug factory and its Research Triangle Park headquarters.

Officials with the N.C. Biotechnology Center are in discussions with at least 20 companies that are considering expansion in this state.

"We've got a lot of things in the pipeline" and activity among prospects is picking up, said CEO Norris Tolson, in a phone interview. "Some are very early stage. We don't have anyone who's ready to announce next week."

The private, nonprofit Biotech Center is working on some potential economic development deals with the N.C. Commerce Department, projects that would likely involve tax breaks or other financial incentives from the state.

But others may skip such aid because incentives require specific hiring  and investment targets.

"Companies are being very pragmatic about what they're trying to do," Tolson said. "Sure, if they can nail down specific numbers, they would love to have incentives."

Biogen Idec is preparing to expand its Research Triangle Park campus, reinforcing the Massachusetts drug company's commitment to its operations in this region.

Officials plan to hold a ceremony on Thursday to begin construction of a 180,000-square-foot building. It will include a five-story administrative office wing and amenities such as cafeteria, auditorium and conference rooms.

The new space will give Biogen's nearly 850 existing employees more room, allow the company to exit some leased offices and could lead to additional hiring in the future.

"We're confident we will see job growth in RTP," although it's too soon to provide specific numbers, said spokesman Mike McBrierty.

That's one reason Biogen didn't seek state or local incentives to help pay for the project. Such awards typically are tied to job creation milestones.

The head of Spain's Grifols is optimistic his company's $4 billion takeover of Talecris Biotherapeutics will win approval from U.S. antitrust regulators.

Grifols and Talecris, which is based in Research Triangle Park, both make medicines from blood plasma. The Federal Trade Commission is reviewing the proposed union to make sure it doesn't lead to higher prices for such drugs. The FTC blocked an earlier Talecris takeover by an Australian company because of antitrust concerns.

“I have in my bag $4 billion sitting and waiting to be invested,” CEO Victor Grifols said at an event in Madrid, Bloomberg News reported. “I don’t know when we’ll receive the green light from the FTC. I’m sure we’ll get it, but it’s a very long process. As soon as we get approval we are going to invest it.”

Grifols and Talecris have extended the deadline for their deal to June 30, which would be more than a year after it was announced.

The fact that Grifols' CEO is discussing it suggests an FTC decision could be coming soon.

The Spanish company seeking to buy Talecris Biotherapeutics for about $4 billion has again extended the deadline for the deal, as officials continue to negotiate with U.S. antitrust regulators.

Grifols and Talecris announced this morning they pushed back the pending date to June 30, more than a year after the proposed merger was announced.

The companies, which initially expected to complete the deal by the end of 2010, previously postponed the date to March 6. Shareholders with Talecris, which is based in Research Triangle Park, approved the deal on Feb. 14.

Both companies produce medicines made from blood plasma. The Federal Trade Commission is reviewing the union to make sure it doesn't lead to higher prices for such drugs.

Merck will sell its Diosynth biotechnology manufacturing plant in Morrisville to Fujifilm Holdings of Japan, the companies announced Sunday night.

Diosynth is known as a contract manufacturing organization, and its local facility, which has changed corporate owners several times in recent years, makes products for pharmaceutical and biotech companies in the United States, Europe and Japan.

Fujifilm  is expected to keep Diosynth's 370 local employees in the deal, said Merck spokeswoman Cheznee Johnson.

Talecris Biotherapeutics reported solid fourth quarter earnings today as it awaits word on whether federal regulators will approve its $4 billion buyout by Grifols of Spain.

Talecris reported fourth-quarter revenue of $410.8 million, up 5.3 percent from the same period last year. Net income rose 19 percent to $68.5 million.

For the year, Talecris had revenue of $1.6 billion, up 4.5 percent from the prior year.

Last week, Talecris shareholders approved the deal with Grifols.

It won't close before March 21, and the deadline could be extended further.

The Federal Trade Commission is reviewing the deal to make sure it doesn't hurt consumers or lead to higher prices for medicines made from blood plasma.

Talecris Biotherapeutics shareholders approved the company’s proposed $4 billion takeover by of Spain this afternoon, but the deal still needs approval from U.S. antitrust regulators.

During a meeting at the Research Triangle Park Marriott, shareholders owning 85 percent of Talecris’ outstanding common stock voted in favor of the deal.

Grifols acquisition of Talecris won’t close before March 21, and Talecris CEO Larry Stern told shareholders that the deadline could be extended further.

“There can be no assurance that Grifols will reach resolution with the [Federal Trade Commission] by March 20, 2011,” Stern said.

“Certainly, however, the FTC, Grifols and we would not be engaging in discussions and extending the timeline if we did not believe that these discussions were worthwhile. We remain optimistic that Grifols will ultimately reach resolution with the FTC.”

Grifols announced in June its plan to buy Talecris, which is based in Research Triangle Park and is North Carolina’s largest biotechnology company.
 

Grifols, the Spanish company seeking to buy Talecris Biotherapeutics for $4 billion, has extended a deadline for the deal to March 6.

The company reported in a regulatory filing today that it agreed to the date with U.S. antitrust regulators. The Federal Trade Commission is reviewing the deal to make sure it doesn't hurt consumers or lead to higher prices for medicines made from blood plasma.

In a previous filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Grifols wrote that it expected the FTC to rule this month, and wanted to close the deal by March 6.

Talecris has scheduled a meeting on Feb. 14 for its shareholders to vote on the proposed deal, which was announced in June.

Talecris Biotherapeutics has postponed a meeting for shareholders to vote on its proposed $4 billion takeover by Grifols of Spain, as the deal awaits approval from U.S. antitrust regulators.

In December, Talecris had scheduled the meeting for Jan. 21 at a hotel near its Research Triangle Park headquarters, but the company announced this afternoon that it's now set for Feb. 14.

Talecris' union with Grifols, announced in June, would shift ownership of the state's largest biotechnology company to a Spanish firm eager to expand in the U.S. The deal is expected to spur some job losses among Talecris' more than 2,200 local employees as Grifols cuts costs.