GSK Completes Transfer of Thrombosis Drugs to Aspen Group

GlaxoSmithKline has completed the transfer of its thrombosis drugs Arixtra and Fraxiparine to the Aspen Group, which bought the brands for $1.2 billion, the UK drugmaker said Tuesday.

The sale is part of GSK’s strategy of divesting non-core brands in order to focus on drugs with greater growth potential, said GSK spokesperson Kalpesh Joshi. GSK’s partnership with Aspen goes back many years, he told Drug Daily Bulletin; in May of 2009, for example, Aspen took control of marketing and distribution of all of GSK’s drugs in South Africa.

Combined sales of Arixtra and Fraxiparine reached $293 million in the first half of 2013. Based on this, the company expects full-year sales figure to hit $578 million. — Lena Freund

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