AstraZeneca PLC — Capital/Financing Update 2019

Oct 1, 2019

6-K 1 a2878o.htm ASTRAZENECA DIVESTS RIGHTS FOR LOSEC TO CHEPLAPHAR Document created using Blueprint(R) - powered by Issuer Direct - www.issuerdirect.com Copyright 2019 Issuer Direct Corporation Blueprint

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

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports under cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F.

Form 20-F X Form 40-F __

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(1):

Indicate 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, Losec sales 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 .

| Media Relations — Gonzalo
Viña | | +44 203 749 5916 |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Rob
Skelding | Oncology | +44 203 749 5821 |
| Rebecca
Einhorn | Oncology | +1 301 518 4122 |
| Matt
Kent | BioPharmaceuticals | +44 203 749 5906 |
| Jennifer
Hursit | Other | +44 203 749 5762 |
| Christina
Malmberg Hägerstrand | Sweden | +46 8 552 53 106 |
| Michele
Meixell | US | +1 302 885 2677 |
| Investor Relations | | |
| Thomas
Kudsk Larsen | | +44 203 749 5712 |
| Henry
Wheeler | Oncology | +44 203 749 5797 |
| Christer
Gruvris | BioPharmaceuticals (CV, metabolism) | +44 203 749 5711 |
| Nick
Stone | BioPharmaceuticals (respiratory, renal) | +44 203 749 5716 |
| Josie
Afolabi | Other medicines | +44 203 749 5631 |
| Craig
Marks | Finance, fixed income | +44 7881 615 764 |
| Jennifer
Kretzmann | Corporate access, retail investors | +44 203 749 5824 |
| US
toll-free | | +1 866 381 72 77 |

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.

AstraZeneca PLC

Date: 01 October 2019

| By: /s/
Adrian Kemp |
| --- |
| Name:
Adrian Kemp |
| Title:
Company Secretary |

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