AstraZeneca has completed its $2.7-billion acquisition of ZS Pharma, bolstering its cardiovascular and metabolic disease portfolio.
The move gives the drugs giant access to the potassium-binding compound ZS-9 (sodium zirconium cyclosilicate), a potential best-in-class treatment for hyperkalaemia, a condition linked with increased mortality in patients with chronic kidney disease, diabetes and chronic heart failure.
The drug is currently under review in the US, with a decision expected by May 26 next year, while a submission in Europe “is also progressing as planned,” AZ said. Current estimates for global peak year sales of ZS-9 exceed $1 billion.
AZ acquired all of ZS Pharma’s outstanding capital stock for $90 per share in an all-cash transaction.
The firm is expecting that the move will generate product sales from 2016, with minimal earnings dilution over 2016 and 2017, becoming accretive to core earnings from 2018.
