Roche licenses promising atopic dermatitis therapy to Dermira

Roche has agreed a deal to license a potentially promising new atopic dermatitis therapy to the dermatology-focused biopharmaceutical company Dermira.

The licensing agreement will give Dermira exclusive worldwide rights to develop and commercialise lebrikizumab, a monoclonal antibody targeting interleukin 13, for the treatment of atopic dermatitis and all other indications.

Dermira will make an initial payment of $80 million (61.54 million pounds) to Roche and further fees totaling $55 million in 2018, plus additional milestone-based payments of $40 million upon the commencement of a first phase III clinical study, up to $210 million upon the achievement of regulatory and sales milestones, and up to $1.025 billion based on the achievement of certain thresholds for net sales.

Roche will retain certain rights to the compound, including exclusive rights to develop and promote lebrikizumab for interstitial lung diseases, such as idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

Tom Wiggans, chairman and chief executive officer of Dermira, said: "We believe atopic dermatitis is one of the greatest unmet needs in dermatology, and lebrikizumab, if successfully developed and approved, could represent a meaningful advancement in the treatment of this disease."

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