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 December
2019
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
reports under cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F.
Form
20-F X Form 40-F __
Indicate
by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper
as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(1):
Indicate
by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper
as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(7): ______
Indicate
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.
Yes __
No X
If
“Yes” is marked, indicate below the file number
assigned to the Registrant in connection with Rule 12g3-2(b):
82-_____________
AstraZeneca PLC
INDEX
TO EXHIBITS
1.
AstraZeneca divests rights to Seroquel and Seroquel XR in the US and Canada
3 December 2019 07:00 GMT
AstraZeneca divests rights
to Seroquel and Seroquel XR in the US and Canada
Sale to Cheplapharm supports AstraZeneca's focus on main
therapy areas
AstraZeneca has agreed to sell the commercial rights
to Seroquel (quetiapine fumarate immediate release)
and Seroquel XR (quetiapine fumarate extended release) in
the US and Canada to Cheplapharm Arzneimittel GmbH
(Cheplapharm). Seroquel and Seroquel XR,
used primarily to treat schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, have
lost their compound patent protection in the US and
Canada.
Ruud Dobber, Executive Vice President, BioPharmaceuticals Business
Unit, said: "This divestment supports our strategy of reducing the
number of mature medicines to enable reinvestment in our main
therapy areas. Cheplapharm recently agreed to acquire the
commercial rights to Seroquel and Seroquel XR in most European markets and Russia from
AstraZeneca and this new agreement will help ensure continued
patient access to this important established medicine in North
America as well."
AstraZeneca will continue to manufacture and
supply Seroquel and Seroquel XR to Cheplapharm during a transition
period.
Financial considerations
Cheplapharm will make an upfront payment of $35m to AstraZeneca and
may also make future sales-contingent payments of up to $6m. Income
arising from the upfront and future payments will be reported in
AstraZeneca's financial statements within Other Operating Income
& Expense. In 2018, Seroquel generated sales of $36m in the
markets covered by this agreement, while Seroquel XR generated $79m. The agreement does not
impact the Company's financial guidance for 2019. As there were no
closing conditions to the divestment, the agreement became
effective upon signing.
Pursuant to Listing Rule 10.4.1R (notification of class 2
transactions), the gross book value of assets subject to the
divestment as at 31 December 2018 was nil. In the year to 31
December 2018, the aggregate profit before tax attributable
to Seroquel and Seroquel XR in the relevant territories were $108m. The
consideration will be paid in cash and the proceeds used for
general corporate purposes.
About Seroquel
Seroquel and Seroquel XR are atypical anti-psychotic medicines with
antidepressant properties. The main indications
for Seroquel are the treatment of schizophrenia and
bipolar disorder. Seroquel XR is also approved in some markets for major
depressive disorder and generalised anxiety
disorder.
AstraZeneca previously divested the rights
to Seroquel and Seroquel XR in the UK, Japan and other major
international markets. AstraZeneca also agreed to divest the
rights to the medicines in Europe (excluding the UK) and Russia to
Cheplapharm earlier in 2019, a transaction that is expected to
complete in the fourth quarter of 2019, subject to customary
closing conditions and regulatory clearances.
About AstraZeneca
AstraZeneca (LSE/STO/NYSE: AZN) 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 and Metabolism, and Respiratory.
AstraZeneca operates in over 100 countries and its innovative
medicines are used by millions of patients worldwide. Please
visit astrazeneca.com and
follow the Company on Twitter @AstraZeneca.
Media
Relations
|
|
|
Gonzalo
Viña
|
|
+44 203
749 5916
|
Rob
Skelding
|
Oncology
|
+44 203
749 5821
|
Rebecca
Einhorn
|
Oncology
|
+1 301
518 4122
|
Matt
Kent
|
BioPharmaceuticals
|
+44 203
749 5906
|
Jennifer
Hursit
|
Other
|
+44
203 749 5762
|
Christina Malmberg
Hägerstrand
|
Sweden
|
+46 8 552 53 106
|
Michele
Meixell
|
US
|
+1 302
885 2677
|
|
|
|
Investor
Relations
|
|
|
Thomas
Kudsk Larsen
|
|
+44 203
749 5712
|
Henry
Wheeler
|
Oncology
|
+44 203
749 5797
|
Christer
Gruvris
|
BioPharmaceuticals
(Cardiovascular, Metabolism)
|
+44 203
749 5711
|
Nick
Stone
|
BioPharmaceuticals
(Renal) Environmental, Social and Governance
|
+44 203
749 5716
|
Josie
Afolabi
|
BioPharmaceuticals
(Respiratory)
Other
medicines
|
+44 203
749 5631
|
Craig
Marks
|
Finance
Fixed
income
|
+44
7881 615 764
|
Jennifer
Kretzmann
|
Corporate
access
Retail
investors
|
+44 203
749 5824
|
US
toll-free
|
|
+1 866
381 72 77
|
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:
03 December
2019
|
By: /s/
Adrian Kemp
|
|
Name:
Adrian Kemp
|
|
Title:
Company Secretary
|