AstraZeneca Buy of Actavis’ Respiratory Products Complete

AstraZeneca has completed its acquisition of the rights to Actavis' branded respiratory business in the US and Canada.

The UK-Swedish drugmaker said the buy strengthens its respiratory franchise globally and builds on its acquisition of Almirall's respiratory portfolio in 2014, as it extends the company's development and commercialization rights into the US for both Tudorza Pressair (aclidinium bromide inhalation powder) and Duaklir Genuair (a dry powder inhaler).

Among other products, AstraZeneca owns the development and commercial rights in the US and Canada to Tudorza Pressair and Duaklir Genuair as well as the twice-daily long-acting muscarinic antagonist LAMA for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and Daliresp (roflumilast), the only once-daily oral PDE4 inhibitor currently on the market for COPD, in the US.

On completion of the acquisition, the drugmaker will pay Activis an initial consideration of $600 million and has agreed to pay low single-digit royalties above a certain revenue threshold.

AstraZeneca has also paid Actavis an additional $100 million for a number of contractual consents and approvals, including certain amendments to the ongoing collaboration agreements between the two companies.