Novo Holdings' $16.5B Catalent buyout in crosshairs as consumer groups ask FTC to block the deal

Novo Holdings is encountering more resistance as it aims to close its $16.5 billion acquisition of pharma manufacturing giant Catalent by the end of the year.

A dozen consumer groups and trade unions on Thursday penned a letter (PDF) to Lina Khan, chair of the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC), urging the antitrust agency to block Novo Holdings’ proposed buyout.