ASTRAZENECA TO STRENGTHEN THERAPY AREA FRANCHISE THROUGH ACQUISITION OF TAKEDA’S
RESPIRATORY BUSINESS
Acquisition to include non-US rights to roflumilast and will be accretive to
2016 earnings, contributing to AstraZeneca’s return to growth strategy
AstraZeneca today announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to
acquire the core respiratory business of Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited
(“Takeda”). The deal will include 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 data1 reinforce the benefit
Daxas brings to patients in reducing exacerbations as an add-on to dual and free
-triple2 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.
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 US3, were $198 million for the period
ending in March 2015. The transaction will be accounted for as a business
combination and is expected to close during the first quarter of 2016, subject
to customary closing conditions. It is expected to be immediately accretive to
earnings from 2016. The acquisition of global rights to Daliresp will also
negate the Company’s existing royalty payments for the medicine in the US. Full
Year 2016 guidance is expected to be provided at Full Year 2015 results on 4
February 2016.
NOTES TO EDITORS
1 Martinez FJ, Calverley PMA, Goehring U, et al. Effect of roflumilast on
exacerbations in patients with severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
uncontrolled by combination therapy (REACT): a multicentre randomised controlled
trial. The Lancet. 2015;385:857-866.
2 Inhaled corticosteroid/long-acting beta2-adrenergic agonist + Long-acting
muscarinic antagonist.
3 Annual global sales of Daxas, Alvesco (for asthma) and Omnaris (for allergic
rhinitis). AstraZeneca has marketed Daliresp in the US since the acquisition of
the rights from Actavis, which completed on 3 March 2015. This figure excludes
any AstraZeneca sales of Daliresp in the US.
About Daliresp/Daxas
Daliresp (roflumilast) is available in the US as a treatment indicated to reduce
the risk of COPD exacerbations in patients with severe COPD associated with
chronic bronchitis and a history of exacerbations. Daliresp is not a
bronchodilator and is not indicated for the relief of acute bronchospasm.
Daxas (roflumilast) is available in Europe as a treatment indicated for
maintenance treatment of severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
(FEV1 post-bronchodilator less than 50% predicted) associated with chronic
bronchitis in adult patients with a history of frequent exacerbations as add on
to bronchodilator treatment.
Daliresp/Daxas has a unique position in severe COPD as the only PDE4 inhibitor
that reduces the rate of COPD exacerbations in a subset of patients who still
suffer from exacerbations despite maximum bronchodilation up to 45.5%, depending
on background therapy and previous exacerbation pattern. Daliresp/Daxas has also
been shown to reduce hospitalisations due to severe exacerbations.1
About Takeda
Located in Osaka, Japan, Takeda (TSE: 4502) is a research-based global company
with its main focus on pharmaceuticals. As the largest pharmaceutical company in
Japan and one of the global leaders of the industry, Takeda is committed to
strive towards better health for people worldwide through leading innovation in
medicine. Additional information about Takeda is available on www.takeda.com.
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 diseases in three main therapy areas –
respiratory, inflammation, autoimmune disease (RIA), cardiovascular and
metabolic disease (CVMD) and oncology – as well as in infection and
neuroscience. 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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Key: RIA – Respiratory, Inflammation and Autoimmunity, CVMD – Cardiovascular and
Metabolic Disease,
ING – Infection, Neuroscience and Gastrointestinal
16 December 2015
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