Pfizer to acquire AstraZeneca’s small-molecule anti-infectives

NEW YORK — Pfizer announced Wednesday that it would be acquiring the development and commercialization rights to AstraZeneca’s late-stage small molecule anti-infectives business, largely outside the United States. 

 

Pfizer will pay $550 million upfront to AstraZeneca upon close of the transaction and a deferred $175 million payment in January 2019. AstraZeneca will be eligible for up to $250 million in milestone payments, as much as $600 million in sales-related payments and tiered royalties on sales of its Zavicefta (ceftazidime-avibactam). 

 

“As we continue to reshape our Essential Health portfolio, we are focusing on areas that further address global public health needs and that complement our core capabilities and experience in therapeutic areas, including anti-infectives,” Pfizer Essential Health group president John Young said.  “The addition of AstraZeneca’s complementary small molecule anti-infectives portfolio will help expand patient access to these important medicines and enhance our global expertise and offerings in this increasingly important area of therapeutics, in addition to providing the opportunity for near-term revenue growth.”

 

The products purchased will be Zavicefta, Zinforo (ceftaroline fosamil), Merrem/Meronem (meropenem), ATM-AVI and CXL. 

 

“This agreement reinforces our strategic focus to invest in our three main therapy areas where we can make the greatest difference to patients’ lives,” AstraZeneca EVP Europe and antibiotics business unit head Luke Miels said. “We’re pleased that our strong science in antibiotics will continue to serve a critical public health need through Pfizer’s dedicated focus on infectious diseases, ensuring these important medicines reach greater numbers of patients around the world.”