Amgen has agreed to buy the human genetics specialist deCODE Genetics in an all-cash deal that values the company at US$415 M. With the acquisition, Amgen will gain access to deCODE’s population-level gene discovery engine, thus helping accelerate its target discovery and validation efforts while avoiding investments in programmes based on less well-validated targets. deCODE filed for bankruptcy in 2009 but was rescued the following year by Saga Investments, an investment consortium led by Polaris Venture Partners and Arch Venture Partners.