AbbVie to focus on smaller deals after buying spree

"I would not anticipate similar sized transactions for the foreseeable future," said AbbVie's Chief Operating Officer Robert Michael on a conference call, referring to the company's $8.7 billion buyout of Cerevel Therapeutics announced on Wednesday.

Read also: AbbVie to acquire Cerevel Therapeutics for USD 8.7 billion

AbbVie said it expects to return to "robust growth" in 2025, after its recent buying spree.

"With additions of Cerevel and ImmunoGen, AbbVie is in a stronger position to deliver sustainable long-term performance in the 2030s and beyond timeframe," said the company's Chairman and CEO Richard Gonzalez.

Read also: AbbVie to acquire ImmunoGen, including its flagship cancer therapy Elahere

Some Wall Street analysts raised concerns that Cerevel's treatments under development might overlap with AbbVie's products, presenting a potential risk for the deal to get approval from the U.S. Federal Trade Commission.

Gonzalez said AbbVie has "confidence" the deal will get through the FTC.

AbbVie's Vraylar is approved for schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and major depressive disorder. The U.S. drugmaker also has its Parkinson's disease treatment Duodopa in the market and another candidate ABBV-951 in development.

"I think the schizophrenia overlap may warrant some additional scrutiny. However, it is a pretty fragmented kind of space," said BMO Capital analyst Evan Seigerman.

Read also: AbbVie to acquire Cerevel Therapeutics for USD 8.7 billion