Takeda Pharmaceutical has agreed to acquire Nycomed, a Swiss pharmaceutical company for €9.6 billion ($13.7 billion), excluding Nycomed’s US dermatology business. The deal is intended to increase Takeda’s presence in European and emerging markets.

Nycomed had overall sales of nearly €3.2 billion ($4.5 billion) in fiscal year 2010, and sales of €2.8 billion ($3.9 billion) when excluding its US dermatology business. It is a privately held Zurich-based pharmaceutical company with prescription and over-the-counter products. The acquisition includes the roflumilast franchise, a treatment for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, which Takeda expects will be a “major source of revenue growth,” according to a May 19, 2011, Takeda press release. Overall, Takeda expects the acquisition to increase its annual revenue by 30%.

The boards of directors of Takeda and Nycomed have agreed to the transaction, as have the shareholders of Nycomed. The deal is expected to close within 90 to 120 days, subject to antitrust approval. Upon closing, Nycomed will become a subsidiary of Takeda. Nycomed is currently owned by the private-equity group Nordic Capital and other investors.