azn201512156k.htm



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 of  December 2015

Commission File Number:  001-11960

AstraZeneca PLC

2 Kingdom Street, London W2 6BD

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  __

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(1):            

Indicate 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 COMPLETES AGREEMENT WITH PERRIGO FOR RIGHTS TO ENTOCORT® IN THE US
 
AstraZeneca today announced that it has completed its agreement with Perrigo Company plc for the divestment of US rights to Entocort® (budesonide), a gastroenterology medicine for patients with mild to moderate Crohn's disease, an area of medicine outside AstraZeneca's strategic focus.
 
Upon completion of the agreement, Perrigo paid AstraZeneca $380 million to acquire the rights to sell Entocort capsules and the authorised generic Entocort capsules marketed by Par Pharmaceuticals. The transaction does not include the transfer of any AstraZeneca employees or facilities.
 
The agreement completes the global divestment of Entocort, following the agreement entered into in July 2015 with Tillotts Pharma AG, part of the Zeria Group, for the divestment of global rights to Entocort outside the US. The divestment further emphasises AstraZeneca's strategic focus on three main therapy areas. The transaction does not impact AstraZeneca's financial guidance for 2015.
 
About AstraZeneca
AstraZeneca is a global, innovation-driven biopharmaceutical business that focuses on the discovery, development and commercialisation of prescription medicines, primarily for the treatment of diseases in three main therapy areas - respiratory, inflammation, autoimmune disease (RIA), cardiovascular and metabolic disease (CVMD) and oncology - as well as in infection and neuroscience. 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
 
 
CONTACTS
 
 
Media Enquiries
 
    
Esra Erkal-Paler
 
UK/Global
+44 20 7604 8030
Neil Burrows
 
UK/Global
+44 20 7604 8032
Vanessa Rhodes
 
UK/Global
+44 20 7604 8037
Karen Birmingham
 
UK/Global
+44 20 7604 8120
Jacob Lund
 
Sweden
+46 8 553 260 20
Michele Meixell
 
US
+1 302 885 2677
Investor Enquiries
 
    
UK
    
Thomas Kudsk Larsen
 
Oncology
+44 7818 524185
Eugenia Litz
RIA
 
+44 7884 735627
Nick Stone
CVMD
 
+44 7717 618834
Craig Marks
 
Finance
+44 7881 615764
Christer Gruvris
 
Consensus Forecasts
+44 7827 836825
US
    
Lindsey Trickett
 
Oncology, ING
+1 240 543 7970
Mitch Chan
 
Oncology
+1 240 477 3771
Dial / Toll-Free
  
 +1 866 381 7277
 
Key: RIA - Respiratory, Inflammation and Autoimmunity, CVMD - Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disease,
ING - Infection, Neuroscience and Gastrointestinal
 
       
15 December 2015
 
-ENDS-
 
 
 
 
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.

AstraZeneca PLC




Date: 15 December 2015
By:  /s/ Adrian Kemp
 
Name: Adrian Kemp
 
Title: Company Secretary