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 of July
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
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Form
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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.
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assigned to the Registrant in connection with Rule 12g3-2(b):
82-_____________
AstraZeneca PLC
INDEX
TO EXHIBITS
1.
Atacand
to be divested to Cheplapharm in Europe
24 July 2018 07:00 BST
Atacand to be divested to
Cheplapharm in Europe
Agreement expands the commercial potential of Atacand in 28
European countries
AstraZeneca
has agreed to sell the commercial rights to Atacand (candesartan cilexetil) and
Atacand Plus
(fixed-dose combination of
candesartan cilexetil and hydrochlorothiazide) in Europe to
Cheplapharm Arzneimittel GmbH (Cheplapharm). Atacand is a prescription medicine for
the treatment of heart failure and hypertension.
Mark
Mallon, Executive Vice President, Global Product & Portfolio
Strategy at AstraZeneca, said: "This agreement forms part of our
strategy of streamlining our portfolio of mature medicines to
enable reinvestment in our main therapy areas and bringing new
medicines to patients. Cheplapharm's strong European presence will
help expand the commercial potential of Atacand."
The agreement is expected to complete in the third quarter
of 2018. AstraZeneca will continue to manufacture and supply
Atacand and Atacand Plus under a supply agreement and will
continue to commercialise the medicines in all markets where it
still holds the rights.
Financial considerations
Cheplapharm
will pay AstraZeneca $200 million on completion of the agreement,
plus a time-bound payment of $10 million and sales-contingent
milestones. The upfront and time-bound
payments are expected to be reported in the Company's financial
statements in 2018. All income is expected to be reported as Other
Operating Income. In 2017, global Product Sales for
Atacand and Atacand Plus were $300 million, including $86
million in Europe. The agreement does not impact the Company's
financial guidance for FY 2018.
About Atacand
Atacand (candesartan cilexetil) is a selective, AT1 subtype
angiotensin II receptor antagonist blocker (ARB) that is indicated
for the treatment of hypertension and heart failure. Atacand is also available in Europe
as a fixed-dose combination of candesartan cilexetil and
hydrochlorothiazide (Atacand Plus). Atacand is indicated for the management
of hypertension in adults and children/adolescents, as well as
heart failure in adults. Atacand
Plus is indicated for the management of hypertension when
monotherapy is not sufficiently effective. Atacand was developed in collaboration
with Takeda. Each company holds the exclusive rights to the product
in certain markets. In other markets, Atacand is co-marketed by both
parties.
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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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:
24 July
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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