Reckitt Benckiser Pharmaceuticals To Demerge, Re-Brand As Indivior By End Of Year
By Lori Clapper
U.K.-based Reckitt Benckiser Group expects its demerger of Reckitt Benckiser Pharmaceuticals (RBP) will be completed before December 2014. This move was originally announced in July 2014. Since then, the operational and financial separation and other activities to advance the demerger have been moving along quickly, according to a company announcement.
Once the demerger is approved by RB shareholders, RBP will begin operating independently under the name Indivior PLC.
Going forward, the newly established company will continue exploring neuroscience and new therapies for addiction and other mental health disorders. Currently it markets a monthly depot injection and the first oral tablet form of buprenorphine to potentially be used to treat opioid dependence.
Additionally, RBP has entered into separate partnerships with AntiOp and XenoPort to study various treatments for opioid overdose and alcohol use disorders.
"People with addiction are often stereotyped and discounted – many are greatly under diagnosed, undertreated and under supported. Since our inception, we have actively partnered with healthcare professionals, the public health community, policy makers and payors to humanize people suffering from addiction and medicalize the condition," Shaun Thaxter, CEO, Reckitt Benckiser Pharmaceuticals said.
That is why RBP has continually grown its portfolio of opioid dependence treatments, which are now available in 40 different countries. Most notable are SUBOXONE (buprenorphine and naloxone) Sublingual Film (CIII), SUBOXONE (buprenorphine and naloxone) Sublingual Tablet (CIII), and SUBUTEX (buprenorphine HCl) Sublingual Tablets.
Christian Heidbreder, Ph.D., Global Director, Research & Development, Reckitt Benckiser Pharmaceuticals added that Indivior plans to continue expanding its pipeline in the addiction space, as well as addressing the greatest unmet needs the addiction therapeutic area.