Astrazeneca

AstraZeneca has completed the acquisition of Actavis’s branded respiratory business in the US and Canada for around $600m.

Under the agreement, Actavis has also received an additional $100m for multiple contractual consents and approvals, including certain amendments to the ongoing collaboration agreements between both the firms.

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Both firms signed the deal last month and it is in line with AstraZeneca’s acquisition of Almirall’s respiratory portfolio in 2014.

As part of the deal, AstraZeneca has acquired development and commercial rights of Tudorza Pressair (aclidinium bromide inhalation powder) and Daliresp (roflumilast), in the US and Canada.

"Our agreement with Actavis builds on our acquisition of Almirall’s respiratory portfolio and brings long-term value to one of our key growth platforms."

Tudorza Pressair is a twice-daily long-acting muscarinic antagonist (LAMA) for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), while Daliresp is the only once-daily oral PDE4 inhibitor currently on the market for COPD, in the US.

Both products have reported annual sales of around $230m in 2014, according to AstraZeneca.

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In addition, AstraZeneca has acquired the development rights of LAS40464 in the US and Canada. It is the combination of a fixed dose of aclidinium with formoterol long-acting beta agonist (LAMA/LABA) in a dry powder inhaler, which received approval in the EU under the brand name Duaklir Genuair.

At the time of acquisition, AstraZeneca US president and North America executive president Paul Hudson said: "Our agreement with Actavis builds on our acquisition of Almirall’s respiratory portfolio and brings long-term value to one of our key growth platforms."


Image: AstraZeneca’s R&D Site in Mölndal, Sweden. Photo: courtesy of Erik031.

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