Amgen will pay an initial $55m and up to $666m in cash subject to milestones.

US-listed drugs group Amgen has agreed to acquire Rodeo Therapeutics, a US-based small-molecule therapy developer for tissue, for up to $721m.

Amgen will pay an initial $55m and up to $666m in cash subject to milestones.

In July 2017, Rodeo raised $5.9m in series A financing from investors including pharmaceutical firms AbbVie, Eli Lilly, Johnson & Johnson and WuXi AppTec.

AbbVie and Johnson & Johnson participated in the round through their respective corporate venturing units: AbbVie Ventures andJohnson & Johnson Innovation –…

James Mawson

James Mawson is founder and chief executive of Global Venturing.