Bristol-Myers Squibb Exits Diabetes

As the Wall Street Journal reported last night, Bristol-Myers Squibb is getting out of the diabetes business entirely, selling its collaboration with AstraZeneca back to AZ. As part of the transaction, and subject to local consultation and legislation, Bristol-Myers Squibb and AstraZeneca anticipate that substantially all employees of Bristol-Myers Squibb dedicated to the diabetes business will be transferred to AstraZeneca. A number of R&D and manufacturing employees dedicated to diabetes will remain with Bristol-Myers Squibb to progress the diabetes portfolio and support the transition for these areas. Bristol-Myers Squibb will work closely with AstraZeneca to ensure a smooth transition. What happens once that diabetes portfolio is "progressed"? I haven't heard details yet, and they may not even be available. Given the recent moves by BMS, though, this announcement shouldn't come as a huge surprise. It does say some interesting things about the positions of the two companies. BMS sees big opportunities in its oncology portfolio, and by comparison, the diabetes business looks slow-moving and too expensive for the return it offers. AstraZeneca, by contrast, needs all the help it can get. Actual drugs that are bringing in actual money, and whose patents are not expiring next Tuesday? Not bad.
Source: In the Pipeline - Category: Chemists Tags: Diabetes and Obesity Source Type: blogs