China-based Beijing Sun-Novo Pharmaceutical Research Co., Ltd (SHA: 688621) has announced plans to acquire the Marketing Authorization Holder (MAH) rights to Beijing Baiao Pharmaceuticals Co., Ltd’s generic version of Takeda Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd’s azilsartan (20mg, 40mg) for RMB 36.05 million (USD 5.04 million). The deal is structured to transfer the MAH rights to a third party, aiming to avoid horizontal competition.
Deal Structure and Background
According to the transfer agreement between Baiao Pharma and Shandong Haiya Pharmaceutical Technology Co., Ltd, the MAH rights were originally set to be transferred to Haiya Pharmaceutical upon the drug’s marketing approval in August 2022. However, the parties recently agreed to transfer the rights to a third party. To comply with the commitment letter related to horizontal competition and conflict of interest signed by the actual controller, Baiao Pharma intends to transfer the rights and interests of azilsartan to a third party through the transaction with Sun-Novo Pharma. The quoted price of RMB 36.05 million (USD 5.04 million) reflects the cost of accumulated research and development investment, not the valuation of the product itself.
Drug Profile
Azilsartan is a next-generation selective AT1 subtype angiotensin II receptor antagonist (ARB) that works by combining with the angiotensin II receptor to inhibit vasoconstriction, reduce peripheral vascular tension, and achieve a hypotensive effect. The originator drug was approved in Japan in January 2012 but has not yet been approved in China, where Hengrui Medicine’s generic version was the first to hit the market.-Fineline Info & Tech
