AstraZeneca to acquire Takeda’s respiratory business
Posted: 17 December 2015 | | No comments yet
AstraZeneca is to acquire the core respiratory business of Takeda for $575 million, adding Daxas to its portfolio…
AstraZeneca is to acquire the core respiratory business of Takeda.
The deal includes the expansion of rights to roflumilast (marketed as Daliresp in the US and Daxas in other countries), the only approved oral PDE4 inhibitor for the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
AstraZeneca has marketed Daliresp in the US since the acquisition of the rights from Actavis in the first quarter of 2015. Full acquisition of the global rights will support AstraZeneca’s respiratory franchise and complement the company’s portfolio of treatments for severe COPD. Recent data reinforce the benefit Daxas brings to patients in reducing exacerbations as an add-on to dual and free-triple inhaled combination therapies. The agreement will also provide AstraZeneca with access to other marketed respiratory medicines and early pipeline products.
Under the terms of the agreement, AstraZeneca will make a payment of $575 million. Approximately 200 staff will transfer to AstraZeneca upon completion.
Takeda’s respiratory business complements AstraZeneca’s COPD treatment portfolio
Luke Miels, Executive Vice President Global Portfolio and Product Strategy at AstraZeneca, said, “The agreement with Takeda complements our respiratory business, one of our three main therapy areas, supports our return to growth and will be immediately accretive to earnings from 2016. Daxas in particular adds to our portfolio of treatments for patients with severe COPD.”
Annual global sales of the three core medicines acquired, excluding any AstraZeneca sales of Daliresp in the US, were $198 million for the period ending in March 2015.
Commenting on the announcement, Christophe Weber, Chief Executive Office, Takeda, said, “Patients are Takeda’s primary focus and we are committed to working closely with AstraZeneca to ensure a smooth transition. AstraZeneca has extensive experience in respiratory care and will be able to prioritize getting these important medicines to the patients that need them.”
