Nestle, AstraZeneca buy Allergan divestitures

In order for AbbVie to close its $63-billion Allergan acquisition, Allergan must divest two drugs — and AstraZeneca and Nestle have agreed to buy them.

Allergan has entered into definitive agreements to divest brazikumab (IL-23 inhibitor) and Zenpep (pancrelipase) to AstraZeneca and Nestle, respectively.

AstraZeneca will acquire brazikumab, an investigational IL-23 inhibitor in Phase 2b/3 development for Crohn's Disease and in Phase 2 development for ulcerative colitis, including global development and commercial rights. AstraZeneca had originally licensed the drug to Allergen in 2016, in a deal worth up to $1.5 billion.

Swiss food group Nestle will add to its medical nutrition business with Allergan’s Zenpep, a product with 2018 sales of $237 million which treats people whose pancreases do not provide enough enzymes to digest fats, proteins and sugars.

Read the press release