AstraZeneca sells cancer drug to Sanofi for $300m

AstraZeneca has entered into a definitive agreement with Sanofi’s rare diseases unit, Genzyme, to divest Caprelsa, which is used to treat a rare type of cancer.

Under the terms of the deal, Genzyme will pay up to $300m to AstraZeneca, including an upfront payment of $165m to acquire the global rights to sell and develop Caprelsa, and further development and sales milestone payments of up to $135m.

Caprelsa was granted Orphan Drug Designation by the US FDA in 2005 and is currently available in 28 countries for the treatment of aggressive and symptomatic medullary thyroid carcinoma, with global product sales of $48m in 2014.

Luke Miels, AstraZeneca’s executive vice president of Global Product & Portfolio Strategy and Corporate Affairs, said: "Caprelsa is a rare disease therapy and the divestment to Genzyme, an expert leader in endocrinology, demonstrates our commitment to ensure patients continue to have access to this medicine while we sharpen our focus on key disease areas."