Pharma BD Deal Intelligence

Allergan plc / Merck & Co., Inc. (CGRP receptor antagonist program)

2015 · Licensing/Option · $250M · Complete

Announcement Sentiment

Strongly positive

Allergan acquired exclusive worldwide rights to Merck's small-molecule oral CGRP receptor antagonist portfolio for $250M upfront plus undisclosed development and commercial milestones. Programs later approved as Ubrelvy (ubrogepant, 2019) and Qulipta (atogepant, 2021).

Did it work? Outcome assessment

Strategic verdict

Achieved Stated Rationale

Financial impact

Accretive

Pipeline outcome

Assets Advanced

Assessment window: 5yr post-close.

Key facts

Announced Jul 07, 2015
Closed Jul 07, 2015
Deal value $250M
Deal type Licensing/Option
Therapeutic area Migraine prevention and acute treatment
Indications Migraine prevention and acute treatment
Key assets Atogepant (MK-8031); ubrogepant (MK-1602)
Mechanism Small-molecule oral calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) receptor antagonists ('gepants')

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