Ardea Biosciences, Inc. (RDEA)

[surf1944]

2:52AM Ardea Biosciences to be acquired by AstraZeneca (AZN) for $32 per share (RDEA) 20.84 : AstraZeneca (AZN) and Ardea Biosciences (RDEA) announce that they have entered into a definitive merger agreement, pursuant to which AZN will acquire RDEA. Ardea's clinically most advanced product candidate, lesinurad, is currently in Phase III development as a potential treatment for the chronic management of hyperuricaemia in patients with gout. AZN will acquire RDEA for $32 per share which represents a total cash value of ~$1.26 bln. This represents a premium on the value of RDEA's stock of 54% based on the closing price on Friday, 20 April 2012.