Blueprint
FORM 6-K
SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington,
D.C. 20549
Report
of Foreign Issuer
Pursuant
to Rule 13a-16 or 15d-16 of
the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
For the
month October 2018
Commission
File Number: 001-11960
AstraZeneca PLC
1
Francis Crick Avenue
Cambridge
Biomedical Campus
Cambridge
CB2 0AA
United
Kingdom
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual
reports under cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F.
Form
20-F X Form 40-F __
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by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper
as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(1):
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by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper
as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(7): ______
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant by furnishing the information
contained in this Form is also thereby furnishing the information
to the Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934.
Yes __
No X
If
“Yes” is marked, indicate below the file number
assigned to the Registrant in connection with Rule 12g3-2(b):
82-_____________
AstraZeneca PLC
INDEX
TO EXHIBITS
1.
Grünenthal
Agreement for rights to Nexium, Vimovo
30 October 2018 07:00 GMT
Agreement with Grünenthal for rights to
Nexium in Europe and Vimovo worldwide (ex-US)
Divestments to support AstraZeneca's focus on three main
therapy areas
AstraZeneca has agreed to divest the prescription medicine rights
to Nexium (esomeprazole) in Europe, as well as
the global rights (excluding the US and
Japan) to Vimovo (naproxen/esomeprazole) to Grünenthal.
The medicines are outside AstraZeneca's three main therapy
areas of Oncology, Cardiovascular, Renal & Metabolism and
Respiratory. Nexium has lost compound patent protection in the
majority of global markets. Vimovo is patent protected in most
European markets until 2025.
Nexium, a proton pump inhibitor
developed by AstraZeneca, helps to reduce the amount of acid
produced by the stomach in patients with gastrointestinal reflux
conditions and ulcers. It has a number of indications, including
the prevention and treatment of gastric ulcers induced by
pain-relieving non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
(NSAIDs).
Vimovo is a modified-release fixed-dose combination
tablet of naproxen, a pain-relieving NSAID and esomeprazole, the
active ingredient in Nexium,
for the treatment of various inflammatory diseases, including
osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis in
patients at risk of developing NSAID-associated gastric ulcers
and/or duodenal ulcers.
Mark Mallon, Executive Vice President, Global Product &
Portfolio Strategy said: "The divestment agreements allow us to
realise value from our successful medicines while redeploying our
resources on developing innovative medicines for patients across
our three main therapy areas, which we expect to drive growth for
AstraZeneca. Grünenthal is a science-based pharmaceutical
company specialised in innovative pain management and related
therapies. Its expertise and distribution networks will help expand
the commercial potential of both Nexium and Vimovo, helping to reach many patients who could
benefit."
Financial considerations
The divestment is expected to complete in 2018.
For Nexium, Grünenthal will make an upfront payment of
$700 million upon completion. AstraZeneca may also receive future
milestones and sales-related payments of up to $90 million.
For Vimovo, Grünenthal will make an upfront payment of
$115 million on completion. AstraZeneca may also receive future
milestones and sales-related payments of up to $17 million. Upfront
and milestone payments will be reported as Other Operating Income
in the Company's financial statements.
AstraZeneca will continue to commercialise Nexium in all markets outside Europe, where the
Company retains the rights. On completion of the agreements,
AstraZeneca will not retain any ownership rights
to Vimovo globally, or to Nexium in Europe. Nexium sales in Europe in H1 2018 were
$121million; Vimovoglobal sales excluding the US and Japan in the
same period were $37million. AstraZeneca will continue to
manufacture and supply Nexium under a long-term supply
agreement.
About Nexium
Nexium (esomeprazole) is
used to treat gastroesophageal reflux disease, ulcers, and
Zollinger-Ellison syndrome. It is also used for the prevention and
treatment of gastric ulcers induced by pain-relieving
NSAIDs. Nexium is available in several formulations
(Nexium gastro-resistant granules for oral
suspension, Nexium gastro-resistant Multi-Unit Pellet System
(Nexium
MUPS™) tablets,
and Nexium injection/infusion) with varying approved
indications. The rights to
over-the-counter Nexium were
externalised to Pfizer Consumer Health in 2012.
About Vimovo
Vimovo (naproxen/esomeprazole) modified-release
tablet is a fixed-dose combination of naproxen, a pain-relieving
NSAID and esomeprazole, the active ingredient
in Nexium. It is indicated for the symptomatic treatment of
osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis in
patients who are at risk of developing NSAID-associated gastric
ulcers and/or duodenal ulcers and where treatment with lower doses
of naproxen or of other NSAIDs is not considered
sufficient. The
rights to Vimovo in the United States were externalised to
Horizon Pharma in 2013.
About AstraZeneca
AstraZeneca is a global, science-led biopharmaceutical company that
focuses on the discovery, development and commercialisation of
prescription medicines, primarily for the treatment of diseases in
three therapy areas - Oncology, Cardiovascular, Renal &
Metabolism and Respiratory. AstraZeneca operates in over 100
countries and its innovative medicines are used by millions of
patients worldwide.
For more information, please visit www.astrazeneca.com and
follow us on Twitter @AstraZeneca.
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Media Relations
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Henry
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Stone
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Adrian Kemp
Company Secretary
AstraZeneca PLC
SIGNATURES
Pursuant
to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf
by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
Date:
30 October
2018
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By: /s/
Adrian Kemp
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Name:
Adrian Kemp
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Title:
Company Secretary
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