Pharma BD Deal Intelligence

AstraZeneca PLC / Pieris Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

2017 · Licensing/Option · $2.2B · Complete

CALLED IT — OFF BY 3

Not actually an acquisition — a $2.1B respiratory Anticalin collaboration whose lead asset failed toxicology and was fully terminated by AstraZeneca in 2023, gutting Pieris (70% layoffs) and contributing to its eventual reverse-merger exit.

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The coverage arc

Jan 04, 2023 PubMed (peer-reviewed) Neutral

Peer-reviewed characterization of elarekibep as a first-in-class inhaled Anticalin targeting IL-4Rα for type 2 endotype asthma, validating the scientific…

Jun 21, 2023 FierceBiotech Bearish

AstraZeneca halted elarekibep Phase 2a trials after a 13-week dry-powder-inhaler tox study revealed inflammation-mediated lung tissue damage; Pieris shares…

Jul 12, 2023 Pharmaphorum Bearish

Pieris announced restructuring and headcount reduction after losing AstraZeneca on elarekibep — the Anticalin respiratory franchise's centerpiece — calling…

Source summaries from our enrichment pipeline; follow links for originals.

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AstraZeneca and Pieris entered a strategic collaboration to develop inhaled Anticalin-based respiratory therapies. Pieris received $45M upfront plus $12.5M for Phase 1 initiation of PRS-060 (~$57.5M near-term), with potential for up to $2.1B in development and commercial milestones plus tiered royalties. AstraZeneca funds all development; Pieris retains U.S. co-development/co-commercialization option from Phase 2a.

Did it work? Outcome assessment

Not actually an acquisition — a $2.1B respiratory Anticalin collaboration whose lead asset failed toxicology and was fully terminated by AstraZeneca in 2023, gutting Pieris (70% layoffs) and contributing to its eventual reverse-merger exit.

Strategic verdict
Failed to Achieve
Financial impact
Neutral
Pipeline outcome
Assets Terminated

Key facts

Related deals — scored

DealYearValueOutcome
AstraZeneca PLC / Pieris Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (this deal)2017$2.2B16
AstraZeneca PLC / Daiichi Sankyo Company, Limited2019$6.9B100
AstraZeneca PLC / KuDOS Pharmaceuticals Limited2005$210M98
AstraZeneca PLC / Alexion Pharmaceuticals Inc.2020$39.0B86
AstraZeneca PLC / Acerta Pharma2015$4.0B86
AstraZeneca PLC / Amgen Inc.2020$2.3B84
AstraZeneca PLC / MedImmune Inc.2007$15.6B82

Compare all 7 side-by-side →

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