Bayer inks a $1.5 billion deal for a biotech with a proprietary drug discovery platform

In a bid to quickly broaden its drug discovery abilities, Bayer (BAYRY) has reached a deal to acquire Vividion Therapeutics for $1.5 billion, the third time in two years the company has bought a small biotech with proprietary technology for uncovering medicines. Unlike the two earlier acquisitions, which gave Bayer entree to potential gene and cell therapies, the focus of this latest acquisition is primarily on oncology and immunology, although that can be expanded to other therapeutic areas.