AZ to acquire Almirall's respiratory business

AstraZeneca plc (LSE:AZN; NYSE:AZN) will acquire the respiratory disease business of Almirall S.A. (Madrid:ALM) for $875 million up front and up to $1.2 billion in milestones. The business had 1H14 sales of EUR 123.5 million ($168.6 million). The deal is expected to close by year end.

AZ will gain Almirall's chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) drug Eklira Genuair aclidinium bromide, an inhalable long-acting, selective M2 and M3 muscarinic receptor antagonist delivered using Almirall's Genuair inhaler; and Almirall's aclidinium bromide/formoterol fumarate ( LAS40464), a fixed-dose combination of aclidinium bromide with a long acting beta agonist (LABA) that is under review in the EU for COPD. ...