Takeda to Acquire Nycomed

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%.