Swiss drugmaker Roche Holding AG said on Tuesday it had agreed to license out the non-U.S. rights to Alli, the first FDA-approved over-the-counter weight loss pill, to GlaxoSmithKline Plc.
Roche said it had granted Glaxo an exclusive licence for the non-prescription rights to anti-obesity treatment orlistat, which Glaxo markets under the name of Alli. The treatment is a half-dose version of a prescription medicine called Xenical, sold by Roche.
The agreement is for rights outside the United States and Japan, Roche said in a statement.
Roche retains all rights to the prescription version of orlistat and continues to market it under the brand name Xenical 120mg.
Roche will receive an upfront payment from Glaxo. Terms were not disclosed.
Glaxo won U.S. approval for Alli, which reduces the amount of fat the body absorbs from food, earlier this month. It is the only non-prescription weight-loss remedy with FDA approval.
The Food and Drug Administration cleared Alli for use by overweight adults and stressed the drug should be combined with a reduced-calories, low-fat diet and exercise.
Roche and Glaxo have also agreed to settle all arbitration procedures related to licensing and co-marketing blood pressure treatment carvedilol, Roche said.
The Swiss company will make an undisclosed payment to Glaxo for which sufficient financial provisions have already been made.
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