Abbott acquires Aventis’ Mavik

Abbott Labs acquires full manufacturing and commercial rights to Aventis' cardiovascular drugs Mavik and Tarka for $300 mil. plus royalties. Abbott already holds marketing rights to Mavik (trandolapril) and Tarka (trandolapril/verapamil) in the U.S. and other countries under a 1991 licensing deal. Aventis will retain rights to the products in Japan. Combined global sales topped $200 mil. in 2003; Abbott believes sales of the two drugs could eventually reach $700 mil. The divestiture is not related to the Sanofi merger, Aventis says...