Advertisement Sanofi's Genzyme agrees to buy AstraZeneca's rare disease therapy Caprelsa for $300m - Pharmaceutical Business review
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Sanofi’s Genzyme agrees to buy AstraZeneca’s rare disease therapy Caprelsa for $300m

Sanofi's Genzyme has entered into a definitive agreement with AstraZeneca to acquire Caprelsa (vandetanib), a rare disease therapy, for about $300m.

Caprelsa is indicated to treat symptomatic or progressive medullary thyroid carcinoma in patients with unresectable locally advanced or metastatic disease and is currently available in 28 countries.

Currently, Caprelsa is in Phase III development for differentiated thyroid carcinoma, with the study expected to be completed in the second half of this year.

As part of the deal, Genzyme will make an upfront payment of $165m to acquire the global rights to sell and further develop Caprelsa, and further development and sales milestone payments of up to $135m.

The deal does not include the transfer of any AstraZeneca employees or facilities.

AstraZeneca Global Product & Portfolio Strategy and Corporate Affairs executive vice-president Luke Miels said: "Caprelsa is a rare disease therapy and the divestment to Genzyme, an expert leader in endocrinology, demonstrates our commitment to ensure patients continue to have access to this medicine while we sharpen our focus on key disease areas."

Subject to closing conditions, the transaction is expected to complete in the second half of this year.