Almirall out-licenses aclidinium to Invida for Australia and New Zealand

Leading Spanish drugmaker Almirall (ALM: MC) has granted Singapore-based Invida, a member of the Italian family-owned Menarini Group, commercial rights for aclidinium in Australia and New Zealand for the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Financial details of the agreement have not been disclosed. The deal includes both aclidinium monotherapy and its combination with formoterol. This accord further strengthens Almirall and Invida’s existing partnership in the area of dermatology within the Australian market, the Spanish company says, adding that this is the fifth out-licensing deal for the drug.

Eduardo Sanchiz, chief executive of Almirall, commented: "In partnership with Invida, we will be able to offer this novel therapy in Australia and New Zealand for COPD, a disease increasing in prevalence that causes mortality and poor quality of life. With this new agreement Aclidinium, via partners or Almirall’s own salesforce, now has access to over 80% of the COPD world market including the USA, Japan, Korea and Europe”.