AstraZeneca sells its ex US antibiotics business to Pfizer which includes Merrem, Zinforo, Zavicefta, ATM-AVI and CXL.

AstraZeneca has announced that it has entered into an agreement with Pfizer Inc. to sell the commercialisation and development rights to its late-stage small molecule antibiotics business in most markets globally outside the US. The agreement reinforces AstraZeneca�s focus on developing transformational medicines in its three main therapy areas, while realising value from the strong portfolio of established and late-stage small molecule antibiotics through Pfizer�s dedicated commercialisation and development capabilities in anti-infectives. The portfolio comprises the approved antibiotics Merrem, Zinforo and Zavicefta, and ATM-AVI and CXL, which are in clinical development.(AstraZeneca holds the global rights to commercialise CXL, with the exception of North America, where the rights are held by Allergan Pharmaceutical Industries Limited).Under the terms of the agreement, Pfizer will make an upfront payment to AstraZeneca of $550 million upon completion and a further unconditional payment of $175 million in January 2019 for the commercialisation and development rights to the late-stage antibiotics business in all markets where AstraZeneca holds the rights. In addition, Pfizer will pay up to $250 million in commercial, manufacturing and regulatory milestones, up to $600 million in sales-related payments as well as recurring, double-digit royalties on future sales of Zavicefta and ATM-AVI in certain markets.