The deal strengthens AstraZeneca’s aclidinium respiratory franchise 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.
AstraZeneca owns the development and commercial rights in the US and Canada to Tudorza Pressair, a twice-daily long-acting muscarinic antagonist (LAMA) for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and to Daliresp (roflumilast), the only once-daily oral PDE4 inhibitor currently on the market for COPD, in the US.
Under the deal, AstraZeneca also owns development rights for LAS40464, the combination of a fixed dose of aclidinium with formoterol long acting beta agonist (LAMA/LABA) in a dry powder inhaler.
Currently, LAS40464 is approved in the European Union (EU) under the brand name Duaklir Genuair.
Additionally, AstraZeneca has also paid $100m to Actavis for a number of contractual consents and approvals, including certain amendments to the ongoing collaboration agreements between the two firms.
Tudorza Pressair 400mcg is an anticholinergic designed for the long-term maintenance treatment of bronchospasm associated with COPD, including chronic bronchitis and emphysema.
The once-daily oral tablet, Daliresp 500mcg the first and only selective PDE4 inhibitor approved by the FDA as a treatment to reduce the risk of exacerbations in patients with severe COPD associated with chronic bronchitis and a history of exacerbations.
Image: AstraZeneca headquarters in London, UK. Photo: courtesy of AstraZeneca plc.