AstraZeneca and Actavis have entered into a definitive agreement under which AstraZeneca will acquire the rights to Actavis' branded respiratory business in the US and Canada for an initial consideration of $600 million on completion and low single-digit royalties above a certain revenue threshold.

Upon completion of the transaction, AstraZeneca will own the development and commercial rights in the US and Canada to Tudorza Pressair (aclidinium bromide inhalation powder), a 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. AstraZeneca will also own development rights in the US and Canada for LAS40464, the combination of a fixed dose of aclidinium with formoterol long acting beta agonist (LAMA/LABA) in a dry-powder inhaler, which is approved in the EU under the brand name Duaklir Genuair.

The strategic transaction strengthens AstraZeneca's respiratory franchise globally and builds on the acquisition of Almirall's respiratory portfolio in 2014 by extending the company's development and commercialization rights into the US for both Tudorza Pressair and Duaklir Genuair. The two products had combined annual sales in the US of approximately $230 million in 2014.

AstraZeneca will also pay Actavis an additional $100 million and Actavis has agreed to a number of contractual consents and approvals, including certain amendments to the ongoing collaboration agreements between AstraZeneca and Actavis.

The transaction is subject to antitrust law clearance as well as other customary terms and conditions. It is anticipated that the transaction will complete in the first quarter of 2015.

Source: AstraZeneca and Actavis