AstraZeneca has announced that it will acquire Takeda’s respiratory line for $575 million. According to the company, about 200 Takeda employees will transfer to AstraZeneca as part of the deal.
The company is citing the acquisition of roflumilast (Daliresp/Daxas), an oral PDE4 inhibitor for the treatment of COPD, as a highlight of the deal, but it is also acquiring the Alvesco ciclesonide MDI for the treatment of asthma and Omnaris ciclesonide nasal spray for the treatment of allergic rhinitis.
Takeda acquired those products, along with Instanyl intranasal fentanyl and Zymelin/Xymelin xylometazoline nasal spray, when it acquired Nycomed in 2012. Alvesco and Omnaris are marketed by Sunovion in the US.
AstraZeneca Executive VP, Global Portfolio and Product Strategy, Luke Miels 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.”
Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited CEO Christophe Weber commented, “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.”
Read the AstraZeneca press release.
Read the Takeda press release.
