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Belgian biopharmaceutical company UCB has announced plans to sell its $680 million Chinese portfolio to investment firms based in Singapore and Abu Dhabi. The sale, which includes established products such as epilepsy medication Keppra and antihistamine Zyrtec, is designed to allow UCB to focus on developing new medicines for the pharmaceutical market in China.

Neurology and Allergy Assets to be Sold

UCB will sell its mature neurology and allergy business in China to CBC Group, an investment firm headquartered in Singapore, and Mubadala Investment Co. PJSC, Abu Dhabi’s state-owned asset manager. As part of the deal, UCB will also transfer ownership of a manufacturing facility located in Zhuhai, southern China. This portfolio sale marks a significant step in UCB’s strategy to streamline its operations and concentrate on innovative research in immunology, neurology, and rare diseases in China. CEO Jean-Christophe Tellier emphasized that UCB is "committed to driving patient outcomes" and will continue to collaborate with local partners to foster innovation in the region.

UCB's $680M Chinese Portfolio Sale : Strategic Shift Toward New Medicines

The sale will enable UCB to redirect its resources towards creating cutting-edge treatments for diseases such as epilepsy, Parkinson’s, and Crohn’s disease, key areas of the company’s research. The deal also ensures that UCB’s older products will remain accessible to patients in China through trusted investment companies with healthcare expertise. "We believe this divestiture will allow our past innovations to reach more patients," UCB stated, while reiterating its focus on advancing healthcare through partnerships.

Industry Impact and Antitrust Review

CBC Group’s CEO, Fu Wei, noted that acquiring UCB’s portfolio would bolster its central nervous system (CNS) biopharma platform in China, strengthening the firm’s healthcare ecosystem. "This acquisition serves as an anchor asset to further build out a leading integrated CNS biopharma platform," he said. The transaction, which is expected to close by December, is subject to antitrust clearances, though specific authorities were not mentioned.

UCB's $680M Chinese Portfolio Sale : Advisors and Legal Counsel

Lazard is advising UCB on the financial aspects of the sale, while Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP is providing legal counsel. For CBC and Mubadala, PJT Partners Inc. is serving as financial adviser, and Clifford Chance LLP is acting as their legal adviser.