Gilead and LEO Pharma partner to develop oral STAT6 program

Companies aim to provide new treatments for inflammatory conditions

Gilead Sciences and LEO Pharma have announced a strategic partnership to advance LEO Pharma’s oral STAT6 program.

This collaboration aims to develop treatments for patients suffering from inflammatory diseases such as atopic dermatitis, asthma, and COPD.

Gilead will gain exclusive global rights to develop and commercialize LEO Pharma’s preclinical oral STAT6 program, which includes small molecule inhibitors and targeted protein degraders.

LEO Pharma retains the option to co-commercialize for dermatology indications outside the US, while maintaining global rights to topical formulations of the STAT6 program.

Flavius Martin, Executive Vice President of Research at Gilead Sciences, highlighted the partnership’s potential. “By partnering with LEO Pharma, we hope to explore the potential of the STAT6 pathway to bring forward an oral option for patients suffering from chronic inflammatory conditions,” he said.

LEO Pharma’s CEO, Christophe Bourdon, expressed similar enthusiasm. “This strategic partnership with Gilead will enable us to accelerate the development of the STAT6 program and maximise its potential in dermatology and beyond.

This partnership acknowledges LEO Pharma’s scientific capabilities and strengthens our commitment to innovate for people with skin diseases,” he stated.

The agreement sees LEO Pharma eligible to receive up to $1.7 billion in total payments, including an upfront payment of $250 million.

Additionally, LEO Pharma may receive tiered royalties on sales of oral STAT6 products, while Gilead may earn tiered royalties on sales of topical STAT6 products.

This collaboration underscores both companies’ commitment to advancing treatments for inflammatory diseases and providing new options for patients worldwide.