Glaxo buys Canadian cough drug maker for $2b

British drugmaker GlaxoSmithKline on Tuesday announced the purchase of Canadian chronic cough treatment specialist Bellus for US$2 billion.

It comes after GSK, led by chief executive Emma Walmsley, demerged its consumer healthcare unit Haleon last year, leav-ing the group to focus on drugs.

GSK has agreed to buy Quebec-based biopharmaceutical Bellus Health Inc. for $14.75 per share, it said in a statement.

Chronic cough, defined as a persistent cough that lasts more than eight weeks, affects an estimated 28 million people worldwide.

While there are no approved medicines in the European Union or United States, a Bellus treatment under clinical develop-ment, Camlipixant, is expected to receive regulatory approvals and launch in 2026.

“Patients suffering from severe forms of refractory chronic cough can experience over 900 coughs daily, resulting in quali-ty-of-life issues,” GSK’s chief commercial officer Luke Miels said in the statement.

“Camlipixant... has the potential to be a best-in-class treatment with significant sales potential,” he added.