Shedding the last of its scandal-plagued opioid business, Assertio has agreed to sell its Nucynta® (tapentadol) franchise to Collegium Pharmaceutical in exchange for US$375 M in cash. Originally licensed from Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Nucynta is an opioid used to manage pain in adults and comes in two formulations : immediate-release Nucynta and extended-release Nucynta® ER. The deal buys out the steep royalty stream Collegium currently pays to Assertio, which accounted for a US$747,000 payment in Q3 2019.