AstraZeneca further sharpens focus through agreement with Genzyme for rare disease medicine Caprelsa
27 July 2015 AstraZeneca today announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement with Genzyme to divest Caprelsa® (vandetanib), a rare disease medicine. Caprelsa was granted Orphan Drug Designation by the US FDA in 2005 and is currently available in 28 countries for the treatment of aggressive and symptomatic medullary thyroid carcinoma, with global product sales of $48 million in 2014. Under the terms of the agreement, Genzyme will pay AstraZeneca up to $300 million, including an upfront payment of $165 million to acquire the global rights to sell and develop Caprelsa, and