WASHINGTON, Nov 26 (Reuters) - Novartis AG hasagreed to sell its nicotine patch, Habitrol, in order to winU.S. antitrust approval for a consumer healthcare joint venturewith Britain's GlaxoSmithKline, the U.S. Federal TradeCommission said on Wednesday.
Novartis and GlaxoSmithKline had previously announced thatthey were creating the venture, and that Glaxo would buyNovartis' vaccines business, excluding flu vaccines. Novartiswould buy Glaxo's oncology drugs portfolio, the companies saidin April.
Novartis and Glaxo, which has Nicoderm CQ, are two of onlythree companies that sell nicotine patches to U.S. retailers,the FTC said. (Reporting by Diane Bartz; Editing by Ros Krasny and SusanHeavey)
Glaxosmithkline (GSK)