Blackstone Group, the US private equity firm behind some of the world’s biggest healthcare buyouts, has appointed a pharmaceuticals specialist to its advisory team as it continues to be linked with some of the most closely-watched deals in the sector.

Blackstone has hired Arthur Higgins, former chairman of healthcare company Bayer HealthCare, to work alongside Lodewijk de Vink and Doug Rogers, both special advisers at the firm and founding members of its healthcare division, Blackstone Healthcare Partners, according to a statement.