NEW YORK — In a bid to bolster its drug discovery efforts, the biotechnology giant Amgen said Monday that it would pay $415 million to acquire deCODE Genetics, a gene-hunting business known for its headline-grabbing discoveries linking genetic variations to disease.

The companies are hoping the deal will be symbiotic. deCODE will get a well-financed partner to further its research, while Amgen is hoping to capitalize on the cutting-edge findings.