Pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline has jumped the final hurdle in its $1.24 billion US (£827 million) acquisition of US Sensodyne toothpaste maker Block Drug.
The clearance from the European Commission means GSK, which was created last month out of the merger of Glaxo Wellcome and SmithKline Beecham, should complete the transaction early this week.
Block Drug's best known product is Sensodyne toothpaste and clearance for the deal had already been obtained from the USA, Australia and Canada.
The US company, based in New Jersey, has operations in more than 100 countries and employs 3,000 people.
The acquisition was announced in October by SmithKline, before it had merged with Glaxo.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article