Pharma BD Deal Intelligence

LEO Pharma A/S / AstraZeneca PLC

2016 · Licensing/Option · $1.1B · Complete

CALLED IT — OFF BY 1

A licensing deal disguised as an acquisition: LEO Pharma's tralokinumab bet paid off as a genuine dermatology growth driver.

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The coverage arc

Jul 01, 2016 Big Molecule Watch (Goodwin) Neutral

Straightforward factual account of the licensing terms: 'LEO Pharma will make an upfront payment to AstraZeneca of $115 million' plus milestones and royalties;…

Jul 01, 2016 Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News Bullish

Presented as strategically positive for both companies: AstraZeneca focuses resources on core respiratory areas while LEO expands into biologics. Aabo: 'By…

Jul 01, 2016 Pharmafile Neutral

AstraZeneca's Luke Miels: 'This agreement allows us to concentrate our efforts on tralokinumab's potential for patients with severe asthma, a priority area for…

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

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LEO Pharma paid AstraZeneca $115M upfront for exclusive global rights to tralokinumab in atopic dermatitis (and any future dermatology indications) plus exclusive European rights to brodalumab in psoriasis. Up to $1B in commercial milestones and mid-teen tiered royalties on tralokinumab. Allowed AstraZeneca to focus tralokinumab on severe asthma; LEO entered biologics. Tralokinumab later approved as Adbry/Adtralza.

Did it work? Outcome assessment

A licensing deal disguised as an acquisition: LEO Pharma's tralokinumab bet paid off as a genuine dermatology growth driver.

Strategic verdict
Achieved Stated Rationale

Key facts

Related deals — scored

DealYearValueOutcome
LEO Pharma A/S / AstraZeneca PLC (this deal)2016$1.1B80
LEO Pharma A/S / Replay Holdings LLC2026$50M
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Sanofi SA / Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.2007$1.0B97
AbbVie Inc. / Boehringer Ingelheim GmbH2016$2.2B95
Amgen Inc. / Immunex Corporation2001$16.0B91
Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Ltd. / Nimbus Lakshmi2022$6.0B82

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