TEVA y GRIFOLS "invaden" USA...

MADRID, May 24 (Reuters) - Spanish blood products firm Grifols expects to close its planned $4 billion takeover of peer Talecris at the beginning of June, following U.S. regulatory approval.

"Once approval is received we expect to close the deal during the first days of June, thus starting the integration process," Grifols said in a statement after a shareholders' meeting in Barcelona on Tuesday.

The statement from Grifols -- which makes medicines such as intravenous immune globulin (IVIG), albumin and other products from blood plasma -- indicated that the U.S. Federal Trade Commission's rubber stamp is near.

Grifols' tie-up with Talecris will create the world's third-largest maker of blood plasma products, competing with Baxter International Inc and Australia's CSL. (Más)

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Grifols compra el gigante de EEUU Talecris y se sube al podio del sector

Israel's Teva Pharmaceutical Industries has agreed to buy Cephalon in a $6.8 billion deal. The acquisition of fellow pharma company will give Teva, the world's largest generic drug developer, a range of branded drugs and more than 30 potential products in late-stage development.

Cephalon is known for making Nuvigil and Provigil, both used in the treatment of narcolepsy. Teva said in a statement that the two companies would have about $7 billion in combined sales.

"Together, we can create something far better than we can apart," said Teva's Americas CEO Bill Marth.

The companies hope their merger will make them leaders in specialty pharmaceuticals, with a strong presence in fields such as central nervous system and respiratory conditions, oncology and pain management.

"By joining forces with Teva, we will benefit from their scale, worldwide reach and operational excellence, allowing us to further pursue our shared goals of delivering new innovative therapies," said Kevin Buchi, CEO of Cephalon.

Teva has about 40,000 employees worldwide and Cephalon has about 4,000.

The deal is subject to approval by Cephalon shareholders, and is expected to close in the second half of the year. (Ver)