Clifford Chance has advised Acino International AG, Zurich, Switzerland, and Acino Pharma AG on the sale of Acino's transdermal patch and implant businesses to Luye Pharma Group Ltd., China. The divestment includes Acino's transdermal manufacturing operations as well as distribution and R&D capabilities. Closing is expected to occur in the second half of 2016.

The divestment is in line with Acino’s strategy of shaping the organization for growth in emerging markets and further expanding Acino’s regional commercial presence in its key markets of the Middle East and Africa, the CIS region, and Latin America.

Acino develops, manufactures and internationally markets pharmaceuticals in novel drug delivery forms. Acino belongs to the leaders in advanced drug delivery technologies with a focus on modified release oral forms, oral dispersible forms, transdermal systems and extended release parenterals, for which it also holds patents.

Luye Pharma Group Ltd. focuses on developing, producing, marketing and selling innovative pharmaceutical products in four of the largest and fastest growing therapeutic areas — oncology, cardiovascular, metabolism and the central nervous system (“CNS”) therapeutic area. The Group has established production facilities and research and development (“R&D”) centers in China as well as offices in US, Malaysia and Singapore with over 3,400 employees. The shares of the Company are listed on the Main Board of the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited.

The Clifford Chance team consisted of partners Dr. Peter Dieners (Healthcare, Düsseldorf), Dr. Nicole Englisch (Corporate, Munich) and Dr. Christian Vogel (Corporate, Düsseldorf), counsel Frederik Mühl (Corporate/Private Equity, Frankfurt), counsel Dr. Claudia Nawroth, senior associate Haruka Okihara, associate Jan Szemjonneck (all Healthcare, Düsseldorf), associate Dr. Andrea Köhler (Healthcare, Munich), partner Dr. Claudia Milbradt, senior associate Dr. Florian Reiling (both IP/Düsseldorf) und senior associate Dr. Alexandra Diehl (IP/Frankfurt), partner Dr. Joachim Schütze (Antitrust, Düsseldorf), partner Thomas Hey (Düsseldorf) and senior associate Dr. Philipp Schäuble (Munich, both Employment law) as well as Dr. Uwe Schimmelschmidt (Frankfurt) and counsel Cord von Mandelsloh (Düsseldorf, both Tax).