Johnson & Johnson agrees to sell US rights to Nucynta franchise to Depomed for $1.05 billion

(Ref: Johnson & Johnson, CNBC, The Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg, StreetInsider, NASDAQ, Depomed)

January 15th, 2015

By: Joe Barber

Tags: Top Story Nucynta Depomed Grunenthal J&J Corporate Affairs Licensing Marketing & Sales

Johnson & Johnson's Janssen Pharmaceuticals unit reached an agreement to sell the US rights to its pain therapy Nucynta (tapentadol), including Nucynta ER and Nucynta oral solution, to Depomed for$1.05 billion, the companies announced Thursday. The all-cash deal is expected to close in the second quarter.

強生楊森制藥單元日前達(dá)成一項協(xié)議，以10.5億美元將其包括Nucynta ER與Nucynta口服溶液在內(nèi)的疼痛治療藥物他噴他多（Nucynta）美國權(quán)利出售給Depomed，兩家公司如是稱。這項全現(xiàn)金交易有望于今年第二季度交割。

"We believe that Nucynta is an ideal strategic fit for Depomed – a rare opportunity to add a proprietary, differentiated drug with a lengthy period of exclusivity that fits precisely into our therapeutic focus," remarked Depomed chief executive Jim Schoeneck. The company stated that the transaction will be immediately accretive.

“我們認(rèn)為，他噴他多對Depomed來說是一個理想的戰(zhàn)略協(xié)調(diào)性，這是一個難得的增添一款擁有知識產(chǎn)權(quán)、有區(qū)別藥物的機會，這款產(chǎn)品漫長的獨占性恰好符合我們的治療重點，”Depomed首席執(zhí)行官Schoeneck評論稱。該公司稱，這項交易會迅速為公司帶來增值。

Depomed indicated that it plans to expand its sales force to more than 250 people as part of its efforts to re-introduce Nucynta and promote the therapy for both chronic pain and nerve damage caused by diabetes. The drugmaker noted that the drug, which amassed US revenue of about $166 million for the 12 months ended September 2014, has patent protection until 2022, with the possibility of a paediatric extension until the following year.

Depomed指出，該公司計劃將其銷售隊伍擴大到逾250人，作為努力的一部分重新推廣Nucynta，促使這款治療藥物既用于慢性疼痛也用于糖尿病引起的神經(jīng)損傷。該制藥商指出，這款藥物的專利保護期到2022年，而用于兒科的可能性會讓其專利保護擴展到2023年，這款藥物截止到2014年9月份，其在美國12個月的銷售估計有1.66億美元。

Meanwhile, Johnson & Johnson will retain rights to the product in other markets, including Canada and Japan. In 2010, the drugmaker expanded its licensing agreement for the therapy with Grunenthal to include selected countries in Asia, Latin America, Africa and Europe.

與此同時，強生將保留這款產(chǎn)品在其它市場，包括加拿大及日本的權(quán)利。2010年，該制藥商針對這款治療藥物擴大了其與Grunenthal的許可協(xié)議，包括了亞洲、拉丁美洲、非洲及歐洲選擇的一些國家。