South San Francisco-based Alios BioPharma, Inc., a biotechnology company developing proprietary therapeutics for viral diseases, has announced a definitive agreement with Johnson & Johnson whereby Alios will be acquired for approximately $1.75 billion in cash payable upon closing of the transaction. The transaction has been approved by the boards of directors of both companies and is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2014.

Latham & Watkins LLP represents Alios BioPharma in the transaction with a corporate team led from the firm’s Silicon Valley office by partner Mark Roeder and associate Chad Rolston, with associates Benjamin Potter, Riley Lochridge, Matthew Van Leeuwen and Rachel Burns along with paralegal Brian Lewis. Advice has also been provided on tax matters by San Francisco partners Kirt Switzer and Grace Chen with associate Una Au; on antitrust matters by San Francisco partners Karen Silverman and Joshua Holian with Washington, D.C. counsel Sydney Smith; on employee benefits and compensation matters by Silicon Valley partner Jay Metz with associate Lilly Fang; and on intellectual property matters by San Diego partner John Wehrli.