Astrazeneca offloads Crohn's treatment for $215m

Astrazeneca has sold global rights outside the US for its Entocort medicine, which treats Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, to Japan's Zeria Group for $215mEntocort generated product sales of $53m outside the US in 2014 for the FTSE 100 drug group, which said the disposal to Zeria subsidiary Tillotts Pharma did not impact its financial guidance for 2015."Our agreement with Tillotts reinforces our strategic focus on selected therapy areas and puts this important medicine in the hands of a company with specialist expertise in gastroenterology, which will benefit patients," said Luke Miels, Astrazeneca's executive vice president for global product and portfolio strategy and corporate affairs.The transaction, which does not include the transfer of any AstraZeneca employees or facilities, is expected to complete in the second half of 2015.The Anglo-Swedish combine has lately been focused on making progress in its oncology pipeline, especially in the hot area of immuno-oncology.Read more: Berenberg ups AstraZeneca to 'buy'; says oncology pipeline will drive growthBoris Johnson to suggest creating a "megafund" for biotech firmsAstraZeneca shares rise 2.5% after positive lung cancer drug update