Pfizer completes takeover of Anacor Pharmaceuticals

Pfizer has announced the completion of its takeover of Anacor Pharmaceuticals, valued at $5.2 billion (3.92 billion pounds).

The deal, which was agreed in May, is expected to strengthen Pfizer's capabilities in the field of inflammation and immunology, while addressing a significant unmet medical need among a large patient population.

Following the acquisition, Pfizer is keen to move ahead with the near-term US product launch and subsequent commercialisation of crisaborole, Anacor's flagship asset, which is backed by substantial amounts of positive clinical data.

If approved, crisaborole has the potential to be an important new first-line treatment option for patients with mild to moderate atopic dermatitis, a condition for which few safe topical treatments are currently available. Pfizer believes peak year sales for crisaborole have the potential to reach or exceed $2 billion.

Albert Bourla, group president for Pfizer's innovative health business, said: "Now that Anacor is part of Pfizer, we can accelerate our shared commitment to help patients with inflammatory disease, an area of high unmet medical need."