Novartis sells parts of Sandoz US to India's Aurobindo for $900 mln

(Reuters) - Novartis AG said on Thursday it would sell the dermatology and generic U.S. oral solids portfolios of Sandoz U.S. to India's Aurobindo Pharma Ltd for $900 million, as the Swiss drugmaker looks to focus on higher growth areas.

The deal also includes about 300 products and additional development projects of Sandoz and an additional $100 million in performance-based payments, Novartis said.

The 131-year-old Sandoz unit was hurt by price pressure in the United States, prompting Novartis Chief Executive Officer Vas Narasimhan to sell the Sandoz unit.

He has so far said Sandoz businesses elsewhere remain core parts of Novartis. Narasimhan is also keeping Sandoz biosimilars business - less-expensive near copies of complex biological medicines whose patents have expired - on hopes that rising demand from cash-strapped governments and insurers seeking to contain costs will help Sandoz boost its margins.

Novartis had earlier this year expressed its intention to sell the Sandoz unit after reporting disappointing sales form the unit.

"Through this transaction, we are refocusing our business but also striving to ensure continuity of supply of important long-used generic medicines for patients and customers in the US," said Richard Francis, Sandoz chief executive.

Following the transaction, the Sandoz U.S. portfolio will continue to be substantial, and will include biosimilars, value-added medicines and complex generics such as injectables, respiratory and ophthalmics, the company said.

"Overall the transaction will position Aurobindo as the 2nd largest dermatology player and the 2nd largest generics company in the U.S. by prescriptions," said N. Govindarajan, Managing Director of Aurobindo Pharma.

As part of the transaction, Aurobindo Pharma USA Inc, a unit of the Hyderabad, India-based company, will acquire the plants in Wilson, North Carolina, as well as Hicksville and Melville, New York, Novartis said.

About 750 employees as well as the field representatives for the PharmaDerm branded dermatology business are expected to transfer to Aurobindo upon closing, Novartis said.

(Reporting by Nivedita Balu in Bengaluru; Editing by Gopakumar Warrier)