AstraZeneca Sells Dental Business for $1.8 Billion

The Associated Press reports, AstraZeneca PLC is selling its Astra Tech dental business, the world''s third-largest maker of dental implants, for $1.8 billion, the Anglo-Swedish pharmaceutical company announced Wednesday. The buyer, DENTSPLY International Inc., said the acquisition would raise its annual revenue by about 25 percent and double its share of the high growth market for dental implants. The sale is expected to be completed in the second half of the year.