Astrazeneca entered into an agreement with based LEO Pharma, selling the Danish drug company rights to develop two experimental drugs to treat skin diseases.
LEO Pharma agreed to pay Britain-based Astrazeneca $115 million in upfront payment and another $1 billion in milestones for the rights to tralokinumab, an experimental mid-stage drug used to treat atopic dermatitis. In the deal, Astrazeneca will retain the rights to develop the drug for treatment of severe asthma.
Astrazeneca also terminated a licensing deal with Canadian Valeant Pharmaceuticals for brodalumab, an experimental psoriasis drug, and sold the European rights to LEO Pharma for an undisclosed amount.
The deals are expected to close in late 2016.
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