AstraZeneca to transfer Eklira, Duaklir rights to Covis Pharma for USD 270 million

Written by Ruchika Sharma Published On 2021-11-05T09:00:51+05:30 | Updated On 5 Nov 2021 3:27 PM IST

AstraZeneca to transfer Eklira, Duaklir rights to Covis Pharma for USD 270 million

UK: AstraZeneca has recently announced that the company has agreed to transfer its global rights to Eklira (aclidinium bromide), known as Tudorza in the US, and Duaklir (aclidinium bromide/formoterol) to Covis Pharma Group (Covis Pharma) in a USD 270 million deal.

Both medicines are delivered via the Genuair device and used for the treatment of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

The agreement will ensure continued patient access to these established medicines.

Covis Pharma previously acquired the rights to the respiratory medicines Alvesco, Omnaris and Zetonna from AstraZeneca in 2018.

Covis Pharma will pay AstraZeneca $270m on completion. Covis Pharma will also cover certain ongoing development costs related to the medicines. The income arising from the upfront payment will be fully offset by a charge for derecognition of the associated intangible asset and therefore no Other Operating Income will be recognised in AstraZeneca's financial statements. In 2020, Eklira and Duaklir generated AstraZeneca revenue of $143m in the countries covered by this agreement.

The transaction is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2021, subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory clearances. The agreement will not impact the Company's financial guidance for 2021.

Eklira (aclidinium bromide) and Duaklir (aclidinium bromide/formoterol) are inhaled respiratory medicines used for the maintenance treatment of COPD. Eklira is a long-acting muscarinic antagonist (LAMA), which is marketed in the US as Tudorza and in some countries as Bretaris.

Duaklir is a combination therapy that contains both a LAMA and a long-acting beta2-agonist (LABA). It is marketed in some countries as Brimica. Both medicines are presented as a dry powder for inhalation and are delivered via a breath-actuated multi-dose dry powder inhaler, Genuair (Pressair in the US). AstraZeneca licensed the global rights to both products from Almirall S.A. in 2014.

Read also: AstraZeneca launches clinical data, insights division in India

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Ruchika Sharma

Ruchika Sharma joined Medical Dialogue as an Correspondent for the Business Section in 2019. She covers all the updates in the Pharmaceutical field, Policy, Insurance, Business Healthcare, Medical News, Health News, Pharma News, Healthcare and Investment. She has completed her B.Com from Delhi University and then pursued postgraduation in M.Com. She can be contacted at editorial@medicaldialogues.in Contact no. 011-43720751