Teva enters drug alliance with UCB in USA

Teva Specialty Pharmaceuticals, the US respiratory therapy unit of Israeli generics giant Teva Pharmaceutical Industries, has agreed to co-commercialize its offerings with Belgian drugmaker UCB.

The initial product to be jointly promoted is Teva's ProAirHFA (albuterol sulfate) Inhalation Aerosol, which is the number-one branded hydrofluroalkane albuterol sulfate inhaler in the USA. Additionally, the agreement will provide UCB future joint promotion opportunities with other agents in development by TSP. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

"Over the last months, we have undertaken a rich, strategic review globally across regions, therapy areas and business units," said William Marth, chief executive of Teva North America. "The respiratory therapy area has been identified as a key growth area given the incidence of asthma, allergic rhinitis, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Our collaboration with UCB, a company known for excellence in the respiratory market, will help us achieve a stronger presence in this growing therapeutic area."