Pfizer acquires AstraZeneca’s molecule anti-infectives business

Pfizer Inc. has announced that it has reached an agreement with AstraZeneca for the acquisition of the development and commercialization rights to its late-stage small molecule anti-infectives business.

The deal mainly affects the two companies outside of the United States.

The agreement between the two companies also involves the commercialization and development rights to Zavicefta, which was recently approved by the European Union, Merrem/Meronem and Zinforo, as well as aztreonam-avibactam (ATM-AVI) and CXL, which are in clinical development.

“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. “We are committed to looking for ways to enhance our portfolio around the world where we offer patients and health care professionals access to more than 60 anti-infective and anti-fungal medicines. 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.”

Pfizer will pay AstraZeneca $550 million up front and a deferred $175 million.