On January 27, AstraZeneca announced the sale of global commercial rights (excluding the United States, India, and Japan) for a portfolio of its off-patent branded antihypertensive medications to Atnahs Pharma. The products include Inderal (propranolol), Tenormin (atenolol), Tenoretic (atenolol/chlorthalidone), Zestril (lisinopril), and Zestoretic (lisinopril/hydrochlorothiazide).
Propranolol, a beta-blocker, is primarily used to treat atrial fibrillation, angina, hypertension, arrhythmias, and other cardiac conditions. It is also clinically used to reduce the severity and frequency of migraine attacks.
Atenolol, also a beta-blocker, is used to treat angina, hypertension, arrhythmias, and to reduce the risk of death after a heart attack. The combination of atenolol and the diuretic chlorthalidone is primarily used clinically for the treatment of hypertension.
Lisinopril is an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEI) primarily used to treat hypertension, congestive heart failure, diabetes-related conditions, hypertensive nephropathy, and to improve survival after a myocardial infarction.
The fixed-dose combination of lisinopril and the diuretic hydrochlorothiazide is primarily used for the treatment of hypertension. In 2018, the global sales of the aforementioned five products amounted to USD 132 million.
Under the agreement, Atnahs will pay AstraZeneca an upfront payment of $350 million and up to $40 million in sales-based royalties between 2020 and 2022. The transaction is expected to be completed in Q1 2020. During the agreed-upon transition period, AstraZeneca will remain responsible for the manufacturing and supply of these products. Upon completion of the transaction, AstraZeneca will retain only the commercial rights to the aforementioned five products in Japan, having previously divested its commercial rights in the United States and India.
Ruud Dobber, Executive Vice President of AstraZeneca’s Biopharmaceuticals Business, stated that the five drugs involved in this divestiture are all highly successful, mature products for AstraZeneca. The company has transferred the rights to these drugs to Atnahs to maintain its focus on innovative drug development, with Atnahs assuming responsibility for their future sales to consumers.