ViroPharma Inc. operates as a drug manufacturer that treats rare diseases in Exton, Pennsylvania. The company had attracted interest from suitors such as European drugmakers Sanofi and Shire Plc, said people who were familiar with the matter.

ViroPharma hired Goldman Sachs Group Inc. after fielding an unsolicited approach from suitors for a possible auction. This was according to the same people who asked not to be named as the matter was held private in nature. Goldman had been active in seeking other suitors for the Pennsylvania based drug manufacturer, said one person. The market valued of ViroPharma was around USD2 billion prior to the planned sale reported by Bloomberg.

This year, top pharmaceutical and biotechnology firms had pursued acquisitions. The move was to replace old products with patent licenses that were about to expire. According to a data compiled by Bloomberg, the value of deals in the healthcare sector had increased 14% from the previous year to more than USD70 billion. Amgen Inc's agreed to buy Onyx Pharmaceuticals Inc. last August over a deal valued at USD10.4 billion.