LONDON, Sept 30 (Reuters) - Britain's biggest drugmakerGlaxoSmithKline agreed the 700 million pounds ($1.13billion) sale of its thrombosis drug brands and a relatedfactory to Aspen Pharmacare, as part of its strategy tofocus on growth products.
The company said on Monday the divestment to South Africa'sbiggest generic drug maker would earn it proceeds of 600 millionpounds and 100 million pounds of the headline price related toinventory.
The disposal, which was flagged by GSK in June, involves theArixtra and Fraxiparine brands, whose worldwide sales are indecline and would otherwise have dragged on GSK's growth at atime when new drugs are set to reach the market.
GSK said that it would retain the rights to the thrombosisbrands in China, India and Pakistan.
GSK, which owns an 18.6 percent stake in Aspen, said thatthe sale proceeds would be used for general corporate purposes.
Earlier in September, GSK also sold its Lucozade and Ribenadrink brands for 1.35 billion pounds to Japan's Suntory Beverage& Food Ltd.