UCB and Novartis announced that they entered into a licensing agreement for cardiovascular and diabetes products in Germany. Under the agreement, UCB has extended commercial rights for the German market to the cardiovascular medication Provas (valsartan) beyond 2011 and has licensed in commercial rights for two line extensions: Dafiro (valsartan and amlodipine) and Dafiro HCT (valsartan, amlodipine and HCT). Dafiro HCT is the first drug for the treatment of hypertension with a combination of three compounds in about 20 years. In addition, UCB will co-commercialize the two new oral anti-diabetics Jalra and Icandra (vildagliptin and vildagliptin + metformin).

"With this agreement we are building on our strengths in Germany, our excellent position in the internal medicine segment," said Willy Cnops, vice president UCB and managing director, UCB Germany. "We are extending our cardiovascular and metabolic product portfolio with the most attractive and innovative treatment options to date in line with UCB's ambitions to offer the best medicines to our patients."

UCB Germany, with a focus on the fields of central nervous system, immunology disorders and internal medicine, is employing about 1400 people (June 2009). In the field of internal medicine in Germany, UCB covers so far a spectrum of indications ranging from cardiovascular diseases to respiratory diseases through to vascular diseases. UCB Germany is an affiliate of UCB S.A. Brussels, Belgium.