With the upcoming patent expiry of its best selling drug, Lexapro® (escitalopram), on the horizon, Forest has paid US$100 M to Nycomed for US rights to the chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) drug, Daxas® (roflumilast). In the same week, AstraZeneca acquired non-US rights to Forest’s antibiotic, ceftaroline.