Allergan has entered into a licensing agreement with MedImmune, AstraZeneca’s global biologics R&D arm, for the global rights to MEDI2070, an anti-IL-23 monoclonal antibody currently in Phase II development for the treatment of moderate-to-severe Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis and other related conditions.
 
AstraZeneca will receive $250 million upfront and potential payments of as much as $1.27 billion, including launch milestones of up to $435 million and sales-based milestones of $725 million, as well as royalties on product sales.
 
MEDI2070 is in development as a next-generation IL-23-only targeted therapy for Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. Targeting IL-23 alone may allow for a broader therapeutic window compared to IL12/23 targeting therapies and may translate into better efficacy.
 
“MEDI2070 represents an exciting addition to our Open Science pipeline, adding an important new program currently being studied in Crohn’s disease, with potential across a number of inflammatory and autoimmune disorders. The MEDI2070 program also reinforces Allergan’s commitment to bringing forward important innovations in the treatment of inflammation and autoimmune disorders where significant unmet need exists across many of our therapeutic areas,” said David Nicholson, chief R&D officer, Allergan. 
 
Bahija Jallal, executive vice president, MedImmune, said, “This agreement demonstrates our sharp focus on three main therapy areas while creating value from the increased R&D productivity and innovative science in our pipeline through collaborations. Allergan has significant experience in gastrointestinal and inflammatory diseases and is the right partner to progress the development and commercialisation of MEDI2070.”