AstraZeneca today announced that it has completed its agreement with Tillotts
Pharma AG (Tillotts), part of the Zeria Group, for the divestment of global
rights, outside the US, to Entocort ® (budesonide), a gastroenterology medicine
for patients with mild to moderate Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.
Upon completion of the transaction, Tillotts paid AstraZeneca $215 million for
the rights to sell and develop Entocort capsules and enema formulations outside
the US. The transaction does not include the transfer of any AstraZeneca
employees or facilities.
The agreement reinforces AstraZeneca’s strategic focus on three main therapy
areas. As AstraZeneca will no longer retain an interest in the ex-US rights to
Entocort, the upfront receipt will be reported in Other Operating Income in the
Company’s financial statements for 2015. The transaction does not impact
AstraZeneca’s financial guidance for 2015.
About Entocort®
In capsule formulation, Entocort is a first-line therapy indicated for the
induction and maintenance of clinical remission of mild to moderate active
Crohn’s disease involving the ileum and/or the ascending colon. As an enema,
Entocort is indicated for the induction and maintenance of clinical remission of
distal ulcerative colitis in the rectum, sigmoid colon and descending colon.
AstraZeneca has a partnership with Par Pharmaceutical for the commercialisation
of Entocort in the US.
About Tillotts
Tillotts Pharma AG, part of the Zeria Group, is a fast-growing specialty pharma
company with over 200 employees in Switzerland and abroad. Tillotts is dedicated
to the development, in/out-licensing and commercialisation of innovative
pharmaceutical products, medical devices and diagnostics, all in the field of
gastroenterology.
Tillotts successfully markets its own products Asacol® and Colpermin®, as well
as VistaPrep® and in-licensed products, such as Simtomax®, in over 55 countries
through its own affiliates within Europe and a carefully chosen network of
gastroenterology-focused marketing partners throughout the world. For more
information, please visit www.tillotts.com.
About Zeria
Zeria Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., founded in 1955, based in Tokyo, Japan, focuses
on R&D, manufacturing and sales of prescription drugs as well as OTC products.
The company is listed on the First Section of Tokyo Stock Exchange (Stock code:
4559). Zeria holds a leading position within the gastroenterology field in Japan
and operates internationally through a number of subsidiaries. For more
information, please visit www.zeria.co.jp.
About AstraZeneca
AstraZeneca is a global, innovation-driven biopharmaceutical business that
focuses on the discovery, development and commercialisation of prescription
medicines, primarily for the treatment of cardiovascular, metabolic,
respiratory, inflammation, autoimmune, oncology, infection and neuroscience
diseases. AstraZeneca operates in over 100 countries and its innovative
medicines are used by millions of patients worldwide. For more information
please visit: www.astrazeneca.com
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17 July 2015
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