AstraZeneca to Buy Gracell Biotechnologies for $1.2 Billion

AstraZeneca has agreed to buy Gracell Biotechnologies for a transaction value of $1.2 billion, as part of the former’s efforts to grow its cell therapies business.

The upfront cash portion of the deal is $1.0 billion, a 62.0% premium to Gracell’s last closing price for its American depository shares of $6.19, AstraZeneca said in a statement Tuesday.