Sunovion has announced that it has agreed to divest US rights to the Alvesco ciclesonide MDI for the treatment of asthma and the Omnaris and Zetonna ciclesonide nasal sprays for the treatment of allergic rhinitis to Covis Pharma.
The company acquired the US rights to the products from Takeda in 2008 and launched Alvesco and Omnaris that same year. Zetonna, an HFA formulation, was launched in 2012. Covis says that patients should expect uninterrupted access to the products.
Covis Pharma CEO Michael Porter commented, “We are excited to announce this transaction and look forward to engaging with patients, physicians and customers in the continued support of these important products as we build out our respiratory franchise.”
Sunovion Chairman and CEO Nobuhiko Tamura said, “With the divestiture of asthma and allergy products, Sunovion is reinforcing its strategic focus on chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in the respiratory area. Sunovion has the broadest COPD portfolio in the US, offering both handheld and nebulized treatment options that can be tailored to individual needs. We are committed to working closely with Covis Pharma to ensure a smooth transition of the divested products. Sunovion is well-positioned to continue to advance our robust respiratory portfolio and help people with serious medical conditions.”
Read the Sunovion press release.
