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AstraZeneca Hands LEO Dermatology Potential

 
• By Lubna Ahmed

AstraZeneca PLC is handing over two pipeline skin disease medicines, tralokinumab and brodalumab, to LEO Pharma for an upfront payment of $115m while it focuses on other key therapy areas. The UK big pharma has also put an end to its license with Valeant Pharmaceuticals for brodalumab in Europe in favor of its new partner.

AstraZeneca PLC has struck a strategic partnership with Leo Pharma AS in which the Danish company will acquire the global licence to tralokinumab, an anti-IL-13 monoclonal antibody for atopic dermatitis. AstraZeneca has also terminated the license for Valeant Pharmaceuticals International Inc.’s right to develop and commercialize IL-17 receptor monoclonal antibody brodalumab in Europe. Under this new agreement, dermatology focused LEO Pharma has been given the exclusive licence to brodalumab for patients with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis in Europe. (Also see "AstraZeneca Unburdens Itself Of Brodalumab" - Scrip, 1 September, 2015.)

LEO will make an upfront payment to AstraZeneca of $115m for the rights to tralokinumab in dermatitis and any future...

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