AstraZeneca and Circassia Enter Strategic Collaboration in Respiratory Disease

AstraZeneca has entered a strategic collaboration with Circassia Pharmaceuticals plc, a respiratory biopharmaceutical company, for the development and commercialisation of Tudorza and Duaklir* in the US. Tudorza and Duaklir are inhaled respiratory medicines for the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Tudorza was approved and launched in the US in 2012. Duaklir is expected to be submitted for US regulatory review in 2018.

Under the terms of the collaboration, Circassia will lead the promotion of Tudorza in the US and has been granted an option to gain the full commercial rights in the future. Circassia has also been granted the rights to Duaklir in the US. AstraZeneca will receive a minority equity stake in Circassia. AstraZeneca will complete ongoing development activities and continue to manufacture and supply both medicines.

This collaboration reinforces AstraZeneca's commitment to maximise patient access and value across the portfolio in all geographic regions, in particular as the pipeline is delivering numerous new medicines and technologies, driven by increased R&D productivity. Circassia has ambitious plans to strengthen its respiratory presence in the US, which provides the potential to expand the collaboration in the future. 

Mark Mallon, Executive Vice President, Global Product & Portfolio Strategy at AstraZeneca, said: "Tudorza and Duaklir are important components of AstraZeneca’s respiratory franchise globally and this collaboration will support their commercialisation in the US for the benefit of the millions of COPD patients. It also further sharpens our focus on Symbicort, Bevespi Aerosphere, benralizumab and other respiratory development programmes. Circassia will be an important strategic partner for AstraZeneca in the US and we look forward to working closely together."

Steve Harris, Chief Executive of Circassia, said: "This proposed transaction is an ideal fit with Circassia’s strategy and respiratory focus. It represents a transformational opportunity for the company. As part of the long-term strategic collaboration with AstraZeneca, we will immediately double our US sales force to promote Tudorza as our priority, as well as our existing NIOX® products, transforming Circassia into a world-class respiratory business."