AstraZeneca buying respiratory drugs from Actavis

AstraZeneca has agreed to acquire the rights to Actavis’s branded respiratory business in Canada and the United States for US$600 million ($749 million).

Upon completion of the transaction, AstraZeneca will own the development and commercial rights in both countries to Tudorza Pressair and Daliresp, which are used to treat chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

The two products had combined annual sales in the U.S. of about $230 million in 2014.

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AstraZeneca will also own development rights in the U.S. and Canada for another drug to treat COPD, which is approved in the European Union under the brand name Duaklir Genuair.

“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,” says Paul Hudson, president, AstraZeneca U.S., and executive vice-president, North America. “With the addition of Tudorza and Daliresp, we will benefit from an immediate boost to revenue in our biggest market, further strengthening our growing respiratory franchise.”

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