Connetics Corporation announced that it would acquire exclusive US rights to Roche's Soriatane brand (acitretin), an approved oral therapy for the treatment of severe psoriasis in adults. The US net sales of Soriatane were approximately $41 million in 2003.

Under the terms of the agreement, Connetics will pay Roche a total of $123 million to acquire the Soriatane product, payable in cash at the closing. The purchase will be financed with existing cash resources and a $30 million bank note provided by Goldman, Sachs & Co. This transaction is expected to close by the end of first quarter of 2004 and is subject to standard terms and closing conditions, including approval under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Act.

"This is a transforming event for Connetics, significantly expanding our presence in dermatology and immediately impacting our financial performance," said Thomas Wiggans, CEO of Connetics. "Soriatane has a strong brand name, has been used by more than one million patients worldwide, and is trusted by dermatologists to be an effective treatment for severe psoriasis. The acquisition of Soriatane significantly reinforces our commitment to dermatology. Our 85-person sales and marketing team is equipped to provide extensive support for Soriatane to ensure that this therapy is available for appropriate patients. This is a very exciting event for Connetics, as it will contribute significantly to our revenue and earnings at a time when we continue to enjoy gains with our core brands, as well as a full pipeline of late-stage development products."

"Soriatane, an oral treatment approved by the FDA in 1997 with proven benefit in five types of psoriasis, is a welcome addition to the Connetics product line. It offers physicians and patients a treatment that is convenient, effective and suitable for long-term maintenance as well as initial therapy," said Lincoln Krochmal, executive vice president, Research and Product Development at Connetics. "As it is available in 10 mg and 25 mg sizes, Soriatane offers important flexibility in dosing to maintain benefit for those appropriate patients requiring chronic administration."