Reckitt Benckiser repurchases buprenorphine drug rights

Reckitt Benckiser has bought back the rights to a number of buprenorphine-based drugs two years before they were scheduled to revert to the company.

It has agreed a 100 million pound deal with Merck Sharpe and Dohme which will see the sales and marketing rights to Suboxone, Subutex and Temgesic return to Reckitt Benckiser on July 1st 2010.

Under the terms of previous arrangements, the rights to the treatments were to revert to the company in mid-2012.

The deal has been agreed in order to allow Reckitt Benckiser to establish a wholly-owned international franchise for Suboxone and Subutex, having previously only controlled the products in two major markets.

It added: “Reckitt Benckiser and Merck Sharpe and Dohme will work closely to ensure a smooth transition in the best interests of patients and healthcare professionals.”

Last week, the company appointed Salvatore Caizzone as its new executive vice-president for Europe, a role which will see the executive operate from the company’s headquarters in Slough.