AstraZeneca to sell ex-US rights to Rhinocort Aqua nasal spray to J&J affiliate

The spray is approved to treat allergic and non-allergic rhinitis, which is an inflammation of the inside of the nose, and nasal polyps, which cause a swelling of the nasal lining.

Subject to customary closing conditions, the agreement is anticipated to close in the fourth quarter of this year.

Any of AstraZeneca employees or facilities will not be transferred as part of the transaction, which does not affect the company’s financial guidance for this year. 

AstraZeneca executive vice president of global product & portfolio strategy Mark Mallon said: “This agreement allows us to concentrate our efforts in Respiratory as one of our three strategic therapy areas, on transforming the treatment of asthma and COPD, where budesonide remains a key component of our marketed as well as pipeline medicines.”

AstraZeneca has recently agreed to divest Insmed the rights to early-stage treatment AZD7986 for $30m upfront and another $120m royalties in future clinical, regulatory, and sales-related milestones.

AZD7986 is a novel oral inhibitor of dipeptidyl peptidase I (DPP1), also known as cathepsin C.

DPP1 is an enzyme that catalyzes the activation of neutrophil serine proteases, which play a key role in pulmonary diseases such as non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis. 

The UK drugmaker has also agreed to sell the US rights to its generic high blood pressure drug Toprol-XL to Aralez Pharmaceuticals Trading DAC for an initial payment of $175m.

Aralez will also pay AstraZeneca up to $48m in milestone and sales-related payments, as well as mid-teen percentage royalties on sales.

Image: AstraZeneca UK sales and marketing Horizon Place. Photo: courtesy of AstraZeneca.