Aurobindo Pharma acquires dermatology business from Sandoz for $900-mn

Hyderabad-based Aurobindo Pharma has announced that it will acquire the dermatology and oral solid business from Sandoz Inc., a subsidiary of Swiss drug maker Novartis for an upfront purchase price of $900-mn in cash, making it the second largest generic player in the US by number of prescriptions. The transaction will be an all cash transaction which Aurobindo will finance through a fully committed debt facility.

The acquisition will add approximately 300 products including projects in development as well as commercial and manufacturing capabilities in the US for Aurobindo. The portfolio that Sandoz is divesting generated sales to the tune of $600-mn in H1-2018.

“The acquisition announced is in line with our strategy to grow and diversify our business in the US. Acquiring these businesses from Sandoz will allow us to further expand our product offering and to become a leading player in the generic dermatology market,” said Mr. N. Govindarajan, Managing Director of Aurobindo.

“As we have done in some of our previous acquisitions, we will be focused on leveraging our Group’s market leading vertically integrated and highly efficient manufacturing base to enhance the market position and medium-term profitability of the businesses we are acquiring,” he added.

Some of the portfolio of products under the deal includes topical antibiotics, gynaecological and dermatological antifungal agents, anti-acne agents, local anaesthetic analgesics, anti-itch, and a dermatological chemo-therapeutic agent.