In a move that provides a much-needed boost to the company’s beleaguered late-stage pipeline, AstraZeneca has agreed to acquire Pearl Therapeutics, a US-based developer of combination therapies for chronic respiratory diseases, in a deal worth up to US$1.15 B. Respiratory, inflammation and autoimmunity represents one of three core therapeutic areas of focus for AstraZeneca as part of its new growth strategy. With the acquisition, the company will gain PT003, a fixed-dose combination of formoterol fumarate and glycopyrrolate that is in Phase III development for moderate-to-severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).