Covis Pharma Sarl, a Switzerland-based specialty pharmaceutical company today announced an agreement with sanofi-aventis U.S. LLC and certain of its affiliates ("Sanofi") to acquire full commercial rights for Nilandron (nilutamide), Plaquenil(hydroxychloroquine), Rilutek (riluzole), Uroxatral (alfuzosin hydrochloride), and Kayexalate (sodium polystyrene sulfate) in the United States. The aggregate sales for these products in the United States in 2012 were $114.6 million. Sanofi will retain the existing rights for these products in countries outside the United States. Terms of the agreement have not been disclosed.
"We are very pleased to announce the addition of these products to our existing portfolio," said Jack Davis, CEO of Covis Pharma. "Covis will continue to supply consistent, top quality, branded pharmaceuticals, ensuring that patients receive the therapeutic care they need." Covis Pharma will promote these branded products through its US-based distributor, Covis Pharmaceuticals Inc. Covis Pharma also supplies authorized generic products to the US market through a separate distributor, Rising Pharmaceuticals Inc. Sanofi will manufacture and supply the products for Covis Pharma.
The agreement has received Hart-Scott-Rodino regulatory clearance in the United States. Read more here.