Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited has announced that it has entered into an agreement to divest a portfolio of select over-the-counter (OTC) and prescription pharmaceutical assets in a number of Near East, Middle East and Africa (NEMEA) countries within its Growth and Emerging Markets Business Unit to Acino for a total value in excess of $200 million. This is the third transaction in FY19 that furthers Takeda’s strategy to focus on business areas core to its long-term growth and facilitate rapid deleveraging following its acquisition of Shire.

While these products continue to play important roles in meeting patient needs, they are primarily outside of Takeda's chosen business areas – Gastroenterology (GI), Rare Diseases, Plasma-Derived Therapies, Oncology and Neuroscience – core to its global long-term growth.

Takeda has agreed to sell a portfolio of approximately 30 select prescription pharmaceutical and OTC products sold in the NEMEA region to Acino, a Swiss pharmaceutical company headquartered in Zurich, with a clear focus on selected markets in the Middle East, Africa, the CIS Region, and Latin America. The following key countries are included in the agreement: Egypt, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkey, Ukraine and United Arab Emirates, as well as other countries.

Under the terms of the agreement, Acino will acquire the rights, title, and interest to the products in the portfolio exclusive to these countries. It is anticipated that primarily sales and marketing professionals supporting the portfolio will transition to Acino at closing of the transaction. The parties will also enter into a multi-year manufacturing and supply agreement, under which Takeda will continue to manufacture the products on behalf of Acino.

The transaction is expected to close in Q4 FY19 (January - March 2020), subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions including receipt of applicable antitrust approvals. Until then, these products will continue to be made available by Takeda.