Pharma BD Deal Intelligence

Madrigal Pharmaceuticals / Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals Inc.

2026 · Licensing/Option · $1.0B · Complete

Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals granted Madrigal Pharmaceuticals an exclusive worldwide license to develop and commercialize ARO-PNPLA3, a clinical-stage RNAi therapeutic designed to reduce liver expression of PNPLA3, for metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH). Madrigal pays USD 25 million upfront and Arrowhead is eligible for up to USD 975 million in development, regulatory and sales milestones plus tiered royalties on commercial sales. Reported Phase 1 data showed liver fat reductions of up to 46 percent after a single dose in patients homozygous for the PNPLA3 I148M variant. The license adds a genetically targeted asset alongside Madrigal's marketed MASH therapy.

This deal is too recent to grade. Critic Score and Outcome Score are assigned after the announcement-week coverage settles and, for Outcome, after the 5-year post-close assessment window opens — expected 2031 at the earliest for this deal, once/if it closes.

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