Circassia acquires Aerocrine AB and Prosonix Ltd and with them diagnostic devices Niox Vero and Niox Mino and soon to be launched PSX 1002

Circassia Pharmaceuticals, a British company developing allergy therapies, has agreed to buy Sweden's asthma-diagnostics company Aerocrine AB and privately held Prosonix Ltd , two companies focused on asthma. Circassia will pay about £139 million ($219 million) for Aerocrine AB and up to £100 million for Prosonix Ltd, with the deals funded through a £275 million placing. Aerocrine AB already sells diagnostic products to asthma doctors in the U.S. and Europe including Niox Vero and Niox Mino. These same clinicians tend to treat allergy patients, providing Circassia with a ready-made sales force as it prepares to launch its lead product, a cat-allergy vaccine. Prosonix Ltd, like Circassia, is preparing to launch its first product (PSX 1002) and was looking for a sales force. For Circassia, the deal will broaden the portfolio of medicines on offer.