Shire

Irish drugmaker Shire PLC’s second attempt to buy Baxalta looks more likely to succeed, with Baxalta’s board backing the sweetened offer of $32 billion in cash and stock. If the deal goes through, the combined company would be one of the world’s top 20 drugmakers by revenue and a leader in the sizzling niche of rare disease medicines.

Irish drugmaker Shire PLC’s second attempt to buy Baxalta looks more likely to succeed, with Baxalta’s board backing the sweetened offer of $32 billion in cash and stock. If the deal goes through, the combined company would be one of the world’s top 20 drugmakers by revenue and a leader in the sizzling niche of rare disease medicines.