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
Novo Holdings has concluded the acquisition of all outstanding shares of commercial-stage biopharmaceutical company Paratek Pharmaceuticals for nearly $462m (€433.67m) to bolster its antimicrobial resistance (AMR) expertise. Paratek develops and commercialises new treatments for life-threatening ailments. Its speciality pharmaceutical platform aids in developing new therapeutics.
Glenmark Pharmaceuticals has signed a definitive agreement for the divestiture of a 75% stake in its division, Glenmark Life Sciences (GLS), to Indian company Nirma in a deal valued at Rs56.51bn ($679.85m). Glenmark Life Sciences focuses on producing active pharmaceutical ingredients (API).
Pierre-Alain Ruffieux, CEO of Lonza, will leave the Basel-based company at the end of September. According to the Swiss Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization (CDMO), the separation is by mutual agreement.
