Covis Pharma will pay AstraZeneca $270 million for global rights to the Eklira (Turdorza, Bretaris) aclidinium bromide and Duaklir (Brimica) aclidinium bromide/formoterol DPIs, the companies have announced. Both DPIs are marketed for the treatment of COPD. In addition to the $270 million payment, Covis said that it “will also cover certain ongoing development costs” for the dry powder inhalers. Covis previously acquired global rights to Alvesco MDI along with Omnaris and Zetonna nasal sprays from AstraZeneca in 2018.
Eklira/Bretaris Genuair was approved in Europe in July 2012, just after Tudorza was approved by the FDA. Duaklir was approved in Europe in November 2014 and in the US in March 2019. AstraZeneca acquired most of the rights to the two inhalers when it acquired Almirall’s respiratory portfolio in 2014. In February 2015, AstraZeneca also acquired the US and Canadian rights to the aclidinium DPIs from Actavis. Circassia acquired US rights to Turdorza and Duaklir from AstraZeneca in 2017.
Covis CEO Michael Porter said, “This acquisition represents a highly strategic and synergistic transaction with AstraZeneca, enabling Covis to offer a full continuum of best-in-class therapies for allergic rhinitis, asthma and COPD. As a result of the acquisition, Covis is firmly placed as one of the top 10 respiratory companies in the world. Combined with our presence in other therapeutic areas and our internal life cycle management and product development programs, this transaction will further enhance our efforts to meet the evolving needs of patients and their health care providers.”
Read the Covis Pharma press release.
Read the AstraZeneca press release.
