Sanofi is fortifying its presence in the field of blood disorders through the purchase of Bioverativ in a deal valued at some $11.6 billion.

The French drugmaker is offering $105 a share for the US biopharma, representing a 64 percent premium to its closing share price on January 19.

Bioverativ generated $847 million in sales and $41 million in royalties in 2016, and currently has two products on the market.

According to Sanofi, the group’s extended half-life therapies, Eloctate [antihaemophilic Factor VIII (recombinant), Fc fusion protein] and Alprolix [coagulation Factor IX (recombinant), Fc fusion protein] for the treatment of haemophilia A and B, respectively, “represented the first major advancements in the haemophilia market in nearly two decades when launched”.

The firm also noted that the deal allows it to leverage Bioverativ’s clinical expertise and existing commercial platform to advance fitusiran, an investigational RNA interference (RNAi) therapeutic for haemophilia A and B, with or without inhibitors, to which it recently obtained development and commercialisation rights.

Aside from its two marketed products, Bioverativ’s pipeline includes a programme in Phase III testing for cold agglutinin disease, and early stage research programs and collaborations in hemophilia, and other rare blood disorders, including sickle cell disease and beta thalassemia.

“Together, we have a great opportunity to bring innovative medicines to patients worldwide, building on Bioverativ’s success in driving new standards of care with its extended half-life factor replacement therapies,” said Olivier Brandicourt, Sanofi’s chief executive, commenting on the deal.

“Combined, we will continue to leverage our scientific know-how, disciplined focus and development expertise that best position us to drive value for our shareholders and create breakthrough treatments for patients.”

The acquisition, which is expected to close in the next three months, should be immediately accretive to Sanofi’s earnings per share in FY2018 and up to 5 percent accretive in FY2019.