AstraZeneca's 'Clear-Out' Strategy Sees Gout Drug Go To Grunenthal

02 Jun 2016

• By Sten Stovall

AstraZeneca is licensing its unlaunched gout drug Zurampic (lesinurad) out to privately held Grunenthal for sale in Europe and Latin America in the UK pure pharma's latest divesture of non-core assets amid efforts to focus on its central activities while also unlocking value from medicines in its portfolio.

Aachen, Germany-based Grunenthal GmbH has licensed rights for AstraZeneca PLC's gout medicine Zurampic (lesinurad) in Europe and Latin America whereby Britain's second biggest drug maker will receive up to $230m in sales and other milestones over the lifetime of the contract and low double-digit royalties.

AstraZeneca PLC will initially manufacture and supply Zurampic to Grunenthal and will handle the European post-approval commitment on its behalf....