Alfasigma, a pharmaceutical company located in Bologna, has launched a bid to acquire Intercept Pharmaceuticals, a leading biopharmaceutical company in the liver disease market. The bidder's price, $19 per share in cash, represents an 82% premium over Tuesday's closing price of $10 for Intercept shares. Yesterday, Intercept stock opened trading at $18 on the Nasdaq, a gain of more than 70% following the announcement by Alfasigma. The purchase transaction, at roughly $793 million, is expected to be completed by the end of 2023. "The acquisition of Intercept marks another important milestone in Alfasigma's growth path, particularly in the U.S. market," stated Francesco Balestrieri, CEO of Alfasigma. "Intercept integrates seamlessly with Alfasigma's core business areas, gastroenterology and hepatology, and we believe the transaction represents a transformational opportunity for both companies."