Schering, the German pharmaceutical company, has boosted its US presence by acquiring a division of Immunex, the US biopharmaceutical company, in the latest sign of a consolidation boom in the pharmaceutical sector.

Schering says it expects to have further deals in the pipeline. M&A advisers have reported over the past year that activity in the healthcare sector has proved to be more stable than in some other industries amid the global downturn. Healthcare advisers predict further activity in areas including biotechnology, medical services and medical devices. Reports from banks such as SG Cowen and Goldman Sachs have indicated that biotech M&A will pick up significantly this year.