AstraZeneca completes acquisition of Takeda’s respiratory business

AstraZeneca has completed the acquisition of the core respiratory business of Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited.

Why AstraZenca acquired 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 data reinforce the benefit Daxas brings to patients in reducing exacerbations as an add-on to dual and free-triple 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.

Under the terms of the agreement, AstraZeneca will acquire the respiratory business including products Daxas (roflumilast), Alvesco and Omnaris (ciclesonide). The acquisition will also include regional and local products, as well as several pre-clinical assets. A number of Takeda employees will transfer to AstraZeneca upon completion of the divestiture.