AstraZeneca agrees to divest Viela shareholding
1 February 2021 12:15 GMT
AstraZeneca agrees to divest Viela shareholding
AstraZeneca has agreed, subject to certain limited exceptions, to divest its 26.7% ownership in Viela Bio, Inc. (Viela), as part of the proposed acquisition of Viela by Horizon Therapeutics plc (Nasdaq: HZNP).
AstraZeneca is anticipating to receive cash proceeds and profit of c.$760-$780m upon closing for the sale of the holding, which will be recorded in Reported and Core Other Operating Income and Expense in the Company's financial statements. The divestment is expected to complete by the end of the first quarter of 2021.
The divestment does not impact the Company's financial guidance for 2020. Guidance for 2021 is anticipated to be issued with full-year 2020 results on 11 February 2021.
Viela
Viela (Nasdaq: VIE), headquartered in Gaithersburg, Maryland, is a biotechnology company dedicated to the discovery, development and commercialisation of novel treatments for autoimmune and severe inflammatory diseases. Viela was founded in 2018 as a spinout from AstraZeneca, with clinical and pre-clinical projects from AstraZeneca's inflammation and autoimmunity pipeline.
AstraZeneca
AstraZeneca (LSE/STO/Nasdaq: AZN) is a global, science-led biopharmaceutical company that focuses on the discovery, development and commercialisation of prescription medicines, primarily for the treatment of diseases in three therapy areas - Oncology, Cardiovascular, Renal & Metabolism, and Respiratory & Immunology. Based in Cambridge, UK, AstraZeneca operates in over 100 countries and its innovative medicines are used by millions of patients worldwide. Please visit astrazeneca.com and follow the Company on Twitter @AstraZeneca.
AstraZeneca contacts
For details on how to contact the Investor Relations Team, please click here. For Media contacts, click here.
Adrian Kemp
Company Secretary
AstraZeneca PLC
This information is provided by RNS, the news service of the London Stock Exchange. RNS is approved by the Financial Conduct Authority to act as a Primary Information Provider in the United Kingdom. Terms and conditions relating to the use and distribution of this information may apply. For further information, please contact rns@lseg.com or visit www.rns.com.