HQ Team
October 20, 2022: Lupin Ltd., one of the largest generic pharma companies by revenue globally, has bought two inhalation brands from the US-based Sunovion for $75 million.
Lupin signed an agreement with Sunovion to acquire Brovana (arformoterol tartrate) Inhalation Solution and Xopenex HFA® (levalbuterol tartrate) Inhalation Aerosol.
“Lupin expects the transaction to be accretive to earnings in the first year,” according to a filing on the BSE.
The acquisition of these two brands expands Lupin’s portfolio of inhalation products in the US and strengthens the company’s presence in the respiratory therapy area.
Chronic bronchitis
Brovana helps in the long-term maintenance treatment of bronchoconstriction in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, including chronic bronchitis and emphysema.
It helps patients to breathe better by helping the muscles around the airways in the lungs relax to prevent symptoms such as wheezing, cough, chest tightness and shortness of breath.
Xopenex HFA is a short-acting beta2-adrenergic agonist (SABA) indicated for the treatment or prevention of bronchospasm in adults, adolescents, and children four years of age or older with reversible obstructive airway disease.
Xopenex HFA may be used alone or with other medications. It is unclear if Xopenex HFA is safe and effective in children younger than four.
‘Respiratory franchise’
“We remain focused on strengthening our respiratory franchise in the US,” said Vinita Gupta, CEO of Lupin.
She said that the company had established a strong position in the respiratory segment with its Albuterol MDI and Brovana-authorized generic launch.
The Mumbai-based company develops and commercializes a wide range of branded and generic formulations, biotechnology products, and APIs in over 100 markets.
It is in cardiovascular, anti-diabetic, and respiratory segments and is significant in the anti-infective, gastrointestinal, central nervous system, and women’s health.
Lupin is the third-largest pharmaceutical company in the US by prescriptions. It has 15 manufacturing sites and seven research centres and employs more than 20,000 people.
Sunovion Pharmaceuticals Inc., based out of Massachusetts, US, was acquired by Sumitomo Dainippon Pharma of Japan. The company took root in 1984.
