Novartis has agreed to sell its Sandoz US dermatology business and generic oral solids to Indian generics company, Aurobindo Pharma, in a deal potentially worth up to US$1 B. The move was triggered by declining sales and pricing pressure in the US generics market as well as organisational changes initiated by Novartis’ newly appointed CEO, as the Swiss company looks to refocus its portfolio to higher-margin drugs. Meanwhile, Aurobindo is stepping up its generics play following its acquisition of Actavis’ European generics business and Generis Farmacêutica making it the second largest generics company in the US by number of prescriptions.