NORTH CHICAGO, Ill. and DUBLIN /PRNewswire/ -- AbbVie (NYSE: ABBV), a research-based global biopharmaceutical company, and Allergan plc (NYSE: AGN), a leading global pharmaceutical company, today announced that the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has accepted the proposed consent order in connection with AbbVie's pending acquisition of Allergan. The acceptance by the FTC satisfies all required antitrust clearances needed to be obtained for the acquisition of Allergan by AbbVie.

As part of the proposed consent, Allergan has agreed to divest brazikumab, an investigational IL-23 inhibitor in development for autoimmune diseases, to AstraZeneca and Zenpep, a treatment for exocrine pancreatic insufficiency due to cystic fibrosis and other conditions, to Nestle. Nestle also will be acquiring Viokace, another pancreatic enzyme preparation, as part of the same transaction.

Additionally, AbbVie and Allergan have amended their Transaction Agreement to provide that only one Allergan Director will join the AbbVie board following close. Allergan's current Chairman and CEO Brent Saunders has elected not to join the AbbVie Board to provide more flexibility to pursue other opportunities in the sector.

The closing of the acquisition remains subject to other customary closing conditions set forth in the transaction agreement and Irish High Court approval. A hearing is scheduled for May 6, 2020.

About Allergan plc
Allergan plc (NYSE: AGN), headquartered in Dublin, Ireland, is a global pharmaceutical leader focused on developing, manufacturing and commercializing branded pharmaceutical, device, biologic, surgical and regenerative medicine products for patients around the world. Allergan markets a portfolio of leading brands and best-in-class products primarily focused on four key therapeutic areas including medical aesthetics, eye care, central nervous system and gastroenterology. As part of its approach to delivering innovation for better patient care, Allergan has built one of the broadest pharmaceutical and device research and development pipelines in the industry.

With colleagues and commercial operations located in approximately 100 countries, Allergan is committed to working with physicians, healthcare providers, and patients to deliver innovative and meaningful treatments that help people around the world live longer, healthier lives every day.

For more information, visit Allergan's website at www.Allergan.com.

About Zenpep
ZENPEP® (pancrelipase) is a prescription medication for people who cannot digest food normally because their pancreas does not make enough enzymes.  ZENPEP may help your body use fats, proteins, and sugars from food. ZENPEP contains a mixture of digestive enzymes (lipases, proteases, and amylases) from pig pancreas. In clinical studies, individuals with exocrine pancreatic insufficiency associated with cystic fibrosis absorbed more fat from foods than those treated with a placebo.

About Brazikumab
Brazikumab is a monoclonal antibody that binds to the IL23 receptor and is in development for Crohn's Disease and Ulcerative Colitis with a companion biomarker. Brazikumab selectively blocks the IL23 immune signal, preventing intestinal inflammation. The Phase IIb/III INTREPID program is underway to assess brazikumab compared to placebo or adalimumab in Crohn's Disease. The Phase II EXPEDITION trial is underway to assess brazikumab compared to placebo or vedolizumab in Ulcerative Colitis.