BioSante and ANI have announced a merger agreement and will form a new combined company.

A drug produced by Almirall will be distributed by Invida in Australia and New Zealand.

Almirall and Invida Holdings have agreed a new commercial partnership that will see the latter licenced to distribute Aclidinium in Australia and New Zealand.

The drug is used in the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and the licence covers both monotherapy with Aclidinium and treatment involving its combination with Formoteraol.

Invida, one of the largest pharma companies in the Asia-Pacific region, offers several contract services with a view to delivering new and innovative drugs to the region.

It will also be responsible for marketing the compound to primary and special care physicians in Australia and New Zealand.

This represents the latest deal between the two companies, which also have existing partnerships for the provision of certain dermatological products to the Australian market.

Eduardo Sanchiz, chief executive of Almirall, said: "In partnership with Invida, we will be able to offer this novel therapy in Australia and New Zealand for COPD, a disease increasing in prevalence that causes mortality and poor quality of life.
"With this new agreement Aclidinium, via partners or Almirall's own salesforce, now has access to over 80 per cent of the COPD world market including the US, Japan, Korea and Europe."