With first drug on the market, Arcutis forks over $16M cash for a buyout

Having scored their first FDA approval, the dermatology specialists at Arcutis have pounced on a new buyout to beef up the pipeline.

Arcutis is acquiring Ducentis BioTherapeutics in a hybrid deal comprising $16 million in cash and roughly $14 million in stock — plus an undisclosed sum of milestone payments. According to Ducentis investor LifeArc, the deal values Ducentis at about $400 million.