Novartis division Sandoz has concluded the acquisition of global brand rights for the antifungal agent Mycamine (micafungin sodium) from Astellas.

In January this year, Sandoz first signed an agreement to purchase the rights of Mycamine from the Japanese company.

Mycamine is intended for the treatment of invasive candidiasis and oesophagal candidiasis. It can also be used to prevent candida and aspergillus infections in patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

The antifungal agent is said to be a therapy of choice in hospitals and intensive care units across the world.

For the year ending 31 March this year, the company achieved sales of JPY14.2bn ($105m) for Mycamine.

Sandoz strengthens its worldwide hospital product range and collection of anti-infective solutions through the acquisition of this key global echinocandin.

Sandoz CEO Richard Saynor said: “This is another sign of our commitment at Sandoz to driving responsible access to critical antimicrobial medicines.

“We are both investing in our production network and selectively building out our leading portfolio in this field to ensure that we can continue to offer patients around the world the right medicine at the right time.”

This month, Sandoz unveiled plans to file for regulatory approval in the US and EU for its Eylea (aflibercept) biosimilar in the next few months.

The approval for the biosimilar would be based on the randomised Phase III trial showing the non-inferiority of the biosimilar compared to Bayer and Regeneron’s Eylea in wet age-related macular degeneration (wAMD).