Introduction
During the 4th quarter of 2016, Cortellis Competitive Intelligence had 889 new deals added as part of its ongoing coverage of pharmaceutical licensing activity. This was an increase on both the last quarter (865) but a decrease from the same quarter for the previous year (915). This article will focus on highlighting a number of the most valuable and notable deals forged during the quarter, as well as a selection of deals from some of the most prolific deal makers. An update on milestones, options and terminated deals of significance will also be presented, along with an early outlook on the next quarter’s pharmaceutical licensing activity.
High-value deals: worth $0.5 billion or more
Approximately 45 high value new partnerships, worth in excess of $100 million, were entered into during the 4th quarter of 2016. Of these, 12 could potentially generate $0.5 billion or more in revenues for their primary collaborators.
Merus and Incyte form $3 billion pact for anticancer biclonic antibodies with predictable behavior
Incyte is to gain worldwide exclusivity to up to eleven of Merus’s bispecific antibodies including two current preclinical immuno-oncology discovery programs utilizing Merus’s Biclonics technology platform for $3 billion. Biclonics are fully-human bispecific antibodies based on full length immunoglobulin G, therefore predictable behavior of the antibodies is ensured after manufacturing compared to other formats. For one current preclinical program, Merus would retain US rights. Merus receives an upfront $120 million, $80 million in equity investment, shared royalties from one of the programs, an option for two other projects and associated share royalties and $350 million in milestones each for the remaining eight assets plus royalties. The deal was expected to close in the first quarter
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