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UCB to focus on core business in India

•    UCB to sell its established brands portfolio in India to Dr. Reddy’s for € 118  million
•    UCB to concentrate on its neurology presence

Brussels (Belgium), April 1, 2015 – 08:50am (CET) – regulated information – In line with its strategic focus, UCB announces it has entered an agreement with Dr. Reddy’s to sell its established brands in India, including its franchises in the areas of allergies and respiratory disorders. The amount of the transaction amounts to INR 8000 million (~ €118 million). The agreement includes the transfer of ~350 members of staff to Dr. Reddy’s. The revenues of the acquired business is ~ INR 1500 million for calendar year 2014.

The agreement is in line with UCB’s strategy to provide the best value for patients and to focus on bringing them innovative drugs while ensuring its mature brands portfolio continues to reach as many people as possible. Dr. Reddy’s is a leading pharmaceutical company that has the highest quality standards and growth ambitions. 

Mark McDade, UCB’s Chief Operating Officer said: "UCB is in a strong position with a solid platform for continuous growth thanks to our core products and our promising pipeline. This position allows us to focus on our neurology portfolio in India, providing innovative solutions to patients living with severe diseases. He also explains “Finding the right company for our established brands and our team in India was crucial, and Dr. Reddy’s knowledge of the local market combined with their ambitious plans and excellent reputation convinced us they were the right choice to drive this business forward.”

Alok Sonig, Senior Vice President and India Business Head said “the acquired UCB portfolio shall accelerate Dr Reddy’s presence in the high growth areas of Dermatology, Respiratory and Pediatrics with market leading brands like Atarax, Nootropil, Zyrtec, Xyzal, Xyzal M etc. We welcome UCB’s employees to our growing global team”

This agreement does not impact UCB’s 2015 financial guidance. 

For further information 

Corporate Communications 

France Nivelle,
Global Communications, UCB
T +32.2.559.9178, france.nivelle@ucb.com

Laurent Schots, 
Media Relations, UCB
T+32.2.559.92.64, laurent.schots@ucb.com 

Investor Relations
Antje Witte,
Investor Relations, UCB
T +32.2.559.94.14, antje.witte@ucb.com 

About UCB
UCB, Brussels, Belgium (www.ucb.com) is a global biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery and development of innovative medicines and solutions to transform the lives of people living with severe diseases of the immune system or of the central nervous system. With more than 8500 people in approximately 40 countries, the company generated revenue of € 3.3 billion in 2014. UCB is listed on Euronext Brussels (symbol: UCB). Follow us on Twitter: @UCB_news

Forward looking statements 
This press release contains forward-looking statements based on current plans, estimates and beliefs of management. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are statements that could be deemed forward-looking statements, including estimates of revenues, operating margins, capital expenditures, cash, other financial information, expected legal, political, regulatory or clinical results and other such estimates and results. By their nature, such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions which could cause actual results to differ materially from those that may be implied by such forward-looking statements contained in this press release. Important factors that could result in such differences include: changes in general economic, business and competitive conditions, the inability to obtain necessary regulatory approvals or to obtain them on acceptable terms, costs associated with research and development, changes in the prospects for products in the pipeline or under development by UCB, effects of future judicial decisions or governmental investigations, product liability claims, challenges to patent protection for products or product candidates, changes in laws or regulations, exchange rate fluctuations, changes or uncertainties in tax laws or the administration of such laws and hiring and retention of its employees. 
Additionally, information contained in this document shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, nor shall there be any offer, solicitation or sale of securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to the registration or qualification under the securities laws of such jurisdiction. UCB is providing this information as of the date of this presentation and expressly disclaims any duty to update any information contained in this press release, either to confirm the actual results or to report a change in its expectations.
There is no guarantee that new product candidates in the pipeline will progress to product approval or that new indications for existing products will be developed and approved. Products or potential products which are the subject of partnerships, joint ventures or licensing collaborations may be subject to differences between the partners. Also, UCB or others could discover safety, side effects or manufacturing problems with its products after they are marketed.
Moreover, sales may be impacted by international and domestic trends toward managed care and health care cost containment and the reimbursement policies imposed by third-party payers as well as legislation affecting biopharmaceutical pricing and reimbursement.

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