GlaxoSmithKline is to sell its portfolio of anesthetic drugs to South Africa’s Aspen Pharmacare for up to 280 million pounds ($372 million) as part of a drive by the British drugmaker to focus on core therapy areas.
The two firms, which have a long history of working together, said on Monday that Aspen would pay 180 million pounds for the products Ultiva, Nimbex, Tracrium, Mivacron and Anectinein, plus up to 100 million pounds in milestone payments.
GSK, which had already sold the U.S. and Canadian rights to the drugs, earned around 35 million pounds from the anaesthetics in the first half of 2016.
Aspen is also acquiring rights to the remaining GSK thrombosis drug portfolio, while the two companies are ending a broader collaboration in sub-Saharan Africa.
The South African group bought most of the thrombosis drug rights in 2013, but GSK had retained certain territories, including China, India and Pakistan.
($1 = 0.7532 pounds)
By Ben Hirschler
Source: Reuters
The novel drug – named Cobenfy – introduces a new mechanism of action to the schizophrenia treatment landscape by targeting cholinergic receptors as opposed to dopamine receptors. The market for schizophrenia drugs has long been dominated by dopamine-blocking antipsychotics, which are associated with significant side effects such as Parkinsonian symptoms, sexual dysfunction, and weight gain.
The European Commission (EC) has granted marketing authorisation to Leo Pharma’s Anzupgo (delgocitinib) cream for treating adults with moderate to severe chronic hand eczema (CHE). The cream is indicated for use in CHE patients for whom topical corticosteroids are not suitable.
After a few years in biotech, Mike Quigley, Ph.D., is returning to the pharma fold, taking up the top science spot at Sanofi. Quigley will start Sept. 30 as the French Big Pharma’s chief scientific officer and global head of research, Sanofi told Fierce Biotech in an emailed statement.
