AstraZeneca Licenses Dermatology Drug to LEO
British-Swedish drugmaker AstraZeneca has formed a strategic partnership with Denmark’s LEO Pharma for skin disease treatments. Under the deal, LEO gains a global license to AstraZeneca’s tralokinumab and an exclusive license to brodalumab in Europe.
An anti-IL-13 monoclonal antibody, tralokinumab has completed a Phase IIb study for treating patients with atopic dermatitis. Brodalumab is an IL-17 receptor monoclonal antibody that is currently under regulatory review in Europe for patients with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis. A decision is expected by the first quarter of 2017.
LEO will make an upfront payment to AstraZeneca of $115 million for the exclusive global rights to tralokinumab in atopic dermatitis and any future additional skin indications, as well as up to $1 billion in commercially related milestones and up to mid-teen tiered percentage royalties on sales.
AstraZeneca will manufacture and supply tralokinumab to Leo and retain all rights to the drug in respiratory disease and any other indications outside of dermatology. The therapy is undergoing Phase III development for patients with severe asthma.
No financial details of the agreement for brodalumab were revealed. This deal supersedes a September 2015 agreement, since terminated, with an affiliate of US drugmaker Valeant covering European rights to develop and commercialize the drug. Under the revised terms of its partnership with AstraZeneca, Valeant retains the rights to the drug in the US as well as other territories outside Europe.
