Pfizer to buy biopharma firm Anacor for $ 5.2 bn

Anacor will be a strong fit with Pfizer’s innovative business, further supporting its strategic focus on inflammation and immunology, and is expected to enhance near-term revenue growth for the innovative business. “Our dedicated inflammation and immunology group has strong existing in-market franchises with Enbrel and Xeljanz, as well as a robust mid-stage pipeline, and this acquisition has the potential to add a near-term US product launch. We believe we are well positioned to maximise crisaborole’s commercial potential through our strong relationships with paediatricians and primary care physicians,” continued Bourla.

Atopic dermatitis is a common, relapsing, chronic, inflammatory skin disorder, with patients displaying a chronic rash characterised by inflammation and itching, often occurring in folds of the skin with symptoms lasting up to 14 days or more. Approximately 18 to 25 million people in the US suffer from this condition, including between 8 and 18 percent of infants and children. Atopic dermatitis has been considerably underdiagnosed due to the lack of approved effective systemic agents, and limitations of current topical agents. There have been no new molecular entities for atopic dermatitis in the last 15 years.

Anacor also holds the rights to Kerydin, a topical treatment for onychomycosis (toenail fungus) that is distributed and commercialised by Sandoz Inc in the US.