Sobi Taps AstraZeneca's RSV Therapies, Both Current And Future, For US Expansion

Swedish Orphan Biovitrum AB's agreements to acquire US rights to AstraZeneca PLC's RSV prophylactic, Synagis (palivizumab), and to participate in future earnings from a candidate RSV prophylactic therapy, MEDI8897, may keep the Swedish company active in the pediatrics/immunology sector for a much longer time than a more straightforward licensing agreement, and allow Sobi's to pursue further in-licensing deals.

For AstraZeneca, the deal continues a series of product divestments as the big pharma focuses increasingly on oncology and a small number of other therapeutic categories