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 October
2019
Commission
File Number: 001-11960
AstraZeneca PLC
1
Francis Crick Avenue
Cambridge
Biomedical Campus
Cambridge
CB2 0AA
United
Kingdom
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by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual
reports under cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F.
Form
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by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper
as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(1):
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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 for Losec to Cheplapharm
01 October 2019 07:05 BST
AstraZeneca divests rights
for Losec to Cheplapharm
Agreement supports AstraZeneca's focus on three main therapy
areas
AstraZeneca has agreed to sell the global commercial rights,
excluding China, Japan, the US and Mexico,
for Losec (omeprazole) and associated brands to
Cheplapharm Arzneimittel GmbH (Cheplapharm).
The divestment includes medicines containing omeprazole marketed by
AstraZeneca or its collaborators under the Acimax, Antra, Mepral, Mopral, Omepral and Zoltum medicine names.
Ruud Dobber, Executive Vice President, BioPharmaceuticals, said:
"This agreement forms part of our strategy of reducing the
portfolio of mature medicines to enable reinvestment in our main
therapy areas, accelerating the number of innovative new medicines
for patients with high unmet medical need. We already have an
excellent relationship with Cheplapharm, and their strong European
presence and global distribution network will help ensure continued
patient access to Losec."
AstraZeneca will continue to manufacture and
supply Losec and its associated medicines and
commercialise the medicine in markets where it still holds the
rights.
Financial considerations
Cheplapharm will pay AstraZeneca approximately $243 million on
completion of the agreement, plus sales-contingent milestones of up
to $33 million in 2021 and 2022. Income arising from the upfront
payment will be reported in the Company's financial statements in
2019 as Other Operating Income. In 2018, Losecsales in the countries covered by this agreement
were $98 million, the majority of which were in Emerging Markets.
The agreement does not change the Company's financial guidance for
2019. As there were no closing considerations to the
transaction, the agreement became effective upon
signing.
About Losec
Losec is a proton
pump inhibitor discovered and developed by AstraZeneca, which helps
to reduce the amount of acid produced by the stomach in patients
with gastrointestinal reflux conditions and ulcers. It has a number
of approved indications and is commonly prescribed for patients
with gastro oesophageal reflux disease.
The commercial rights to Losec and other omeprazole medicines in the US,
Japan and Mexico, as well as the commercial rights to the
over-the-counter version in France, Finland, Ireland, New Zealand
and the Netherlands were previously divested.
About AstraZeneca
AstraZeneca 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 (CVRM), 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 us on Twitter @AstraZeneca.
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Media Relations
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Gonzalo
Viña
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+44 203 749 5916
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Rob
Skelding
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Oncology
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+44 203 749 5821
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Rebecca
Einhorn
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Oncology
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+1 301 518 4122
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Matt
Kent
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BioPharmaceuticals
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+44 203 749 5906
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Jennifer
Hursit
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Other
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+44 203 749 5762
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Christina
Malmberg Hägerstrand
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Sweden
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+46 8 552 53 106
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Michele
Meixell
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US
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+1 302 885 2677
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Investor Relations
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Thomas
Kudsk Larsen
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+44 203 749 5712
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Henry
Wheeler
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Oncology
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+44 203 749 5797
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Christer
Gruvris
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BioPharmaceuticals (CV, metabolism)
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+44 203 749 5711
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Nick
Stone
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BioPharmaceuticals (respiratory, renal)
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+44 203 749 5716
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Josie
Afolabi
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Other medicines
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+44 203 749 5631
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Craig
Marks
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Finance, fixed income
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+44 7881 615 764
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Jennifer
Kretzmann
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Corporate access, retail investors
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+44 203 749 5824
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US
toll-free
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+1 866 381 72 77
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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:
01 October
2019
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By: /s/
Adrian Kemp
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Name:
Adrian Kemp
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Title:
Company Secretary
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