Circassia Pharma lands commercial rights for Astrazeneca COPD drugs

Circassia Pharmaceuticals plc has agreed to pay Astrazeneca plc up to $230 million in cash and stock to lead U.S. promotion of two chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) therapies in a deal that Circassia CEO Steve Harris told BioWorld Today will immediately add a second product to its portfolio and drive a short-order doubling of its sales force to 200 reps.