Alacrita White Papers

Pharma Licensing Interests: The Updated Wish List of 56 Big Pharma Companies

Written by Chris Owens, PhD, and Michael Lombardo, PhD, PharmD | Aug 16, 2023 6:57:07 PM

Intro:

Over the past two decades, there has been a major shift in the Big Pharma R&D model. In the face of declining efficiencies and increases in both cost and timing for the successful approval and launch of new medicines, large pharma is relying less on internal R&D alone. Discovery collaborations, the in-licensing of early, preclinical, and clinical stage drug candidates, and the acquisition of innovative biotech companies are now central components of pipeline expansion strategies. The aim is mutually beneficial: providing the diversification and added shots-on-target big pharma seeks, while also giving much needed fuel to early-stage innovation. Early partnering provides small biotech and pharma companies with validation and capital for expanding their R&D efforts, enabling the diversification of their pipelines and improving their ability to mitigate risk. Acquisition by large pharma is also an ideal exit strategy for many initial investors.

In 2021, we assembled a list of 64 pharma companies with market capitalizations greater than $10B USD that provided partnering web pages or PDFs on their websites. We then listed and analyzed the data in the paper "What's on Pharma's Licensing Wish List". Given the ever-changing landscape and the resulting shifts in Big Pharma interests, we sought to revisit and revise this analysis and highlight any changes in their appetites over the past two years.

First and foremost, while 56 of the previous companies remain, eight are no longer operating in the same capacity, with some merging and others ceasing operation. For the 56 remaining, in Table 1 we've compiled updated links to each company’s partnering and therapeutic-areas-of-interest webpages, or their downloadable content, and have listed each company’s stated partnering interests as of June 2023. The details these companies provide can indicate either broad descriptions of diseases of interest or more precise details of target indications, modalities, stages of development, and even specific pathways that are considered in scope. 

Based on the data compiled, which therapeutic areas appear to have the highest levels of interest?

In order to answer this question, we standardized the areas of partnering interest (Table 2) according to those used by the majority of companies or, when there was no commonly-used specification, we selected a suitable grouping. Using these standardized groupings, there was a broad range in the number of expressed interests by the companies, ranging from one area to thirteen, with the average being 4.8. The most popular areas of partnering interest listed were oncology (68%), immunology (59%), and neuroscience (50%), followed by infectious diseases (45%), cardiovascular (38%), endocrine/metabolic (34%), and rare/genetic (32%). (Figure 1.)

The suggestion here is that a biotech company may have a higher probability of gaining the attention of Big Pharma if its drug development programs target the most sought-after indications. Though, it’s important to note that these companies' published interests may not reflect their actual priorities or actual current and future needs, and as such this information functions best as general guidance rather than as a basis for strategic planning.

That being said, when we compared the current pharma interests with the interests of those same pharma companies from two years ago (Figure 2), we found increases in the following therapeutic areas:

  • Allergy (+50%)
  • Dermatology (+33%)
  • Women’s Health (+25%)
  • Ophthalmology (+18%)
  • Endocrine/metabolic: (+6%)
  • Cardiovascular: (+5%)

While percentage decreases were observed in the following indications:

  • Cerebrovascular (-50%),
  • Psychiatric and Respiratory (-25%)
  • Inflammation (-17%)
  • Musculoskeletal (-14%)
  • Infectious disease (-4%)
  • Neuroscience and Oncology (-3%)

Lastly, for those interested, a brief partnering primer, can be found at the end of this paper.

 

Table 1. Pharma Partnering Interests

Company

General Partnering Webpages

Company Areas of Interest Webpage

Areas of Interest List

AbbVie

https://www.abbvie.com/partnerships.html

https://www.abbvie.com/partnerships/areas-of-interest.html

Immunology, Oncology, Neuroscience, Cystic Fibrosis, Eye care (retinal degeneration, glaucoma, dry eye and ocular surface disease, refractive medicine), Body aesthetics (facial and body filling, breast reconstruction/augmentation, and regenerative soft tissue repair), Women's Health, Virology

Alnylam Pharmaceuticals

https://www.alnylam.com/about-alnylam/investigator-initiated-studies/

https://www.alnylam.com/our-science/the-science-of-rnai/

RNAi therapeutics for genetic diseases, cardio-metabolic diseases, infectious diseases, and central nervous system (CNS) and ocular diseases

Amgen

https://www.amgen.com/partners/

https://www.amgenbd.com/resource/1610139576000/Brochure_AmgenBD?

Oncology/Hematology, Cardiovascular Disease, Bone Health, Nephrology, Inflammation, Neuroscience

Apellis

https://apellis.com/contact-us/

https://apellis.com/focus-areas/

Ophthalmology, Rare Disease, Neurology

Argenx

https://www.argenx.com/innovation#partnering-opportunities

https://www.argenx.com/patients#disease-areas

Autoimmune diseases (myasthenia gravis, immune thrombocytopenia, chronic inflammatory demyelinating neuropathy and pemphigus vulgaris)

Astellas Pharma

https://www.astellas.com/us/innovation/partnering

https://www.astellas.com/us/innovation/areas-of-interest

Oncology, Urology, Nephrology, Immunology, Neuroscience, Muscle Diseases, ophthalmology, Regenerative Medicine, Vaccines, Gene Therapy

AstraZeneca

https://www.astrazeneca.com/Partnering.html

https://www.astrazeneca.com/our-therapy-areas.html

Oncology, Cardiovascular, Renal, Metabolism, Respiratory & Immunology, autoimmunity, infection & vaccines, neuroscience and gastroenterology

Baxter International

https://www.baxter.com/our-story/fueling-collaborative-innovation

https://www.baxter.com/our-story/fueling-collaborative-innovation/baxter-ventures

In-Hospital Solutions and Therapeutics, Medical devices, Diagnostic tools, Renal therapies

Bayer

https://pharma.bayer.com/partnering

https://pharma.bayer.com/our-areas-interest

Cardiology, hematology, oncology, women's healthcare, ophthalmology, radiology

BeiGene

https://www.beigene.com/partnering/partnering-with-beigene

https://www.beigene.com/science-and-product-portfolio/research-development

Cancer (molecular targets), immuno-oncology therapies, combination therapies

Biogen

https://www.biogen.com/en_us/contact.html

https://www.biogen.com/en_us/scientific-expertise.html

MS & neuroimmunology, neuromuscular disorders (SMA, ALS), movement disorders (Parkinson's), Alzheimer's & dementia, ophthalmology, neuropsychiatry, immunology, acute neurology, neuropathic pain

BioMarin Pharmaceutical

https://www.biomarin.com/our-company/funding-and-support/independent-research/

https://www.biomarin.com/products/pipeline

Genetic therapies for rare diseases

BioNTech

https://servicesplatform.partneringplace.com/OppPortal/portal/BioNTech/

https://www.biontech.com/int/en/home/research-and-innovation/therapeutic-areas.html

Oncology, Infectious Disease (COVID-19, Malaria, Tuberculosis)

Boehringer Ingelheim

https://www.boehringer-ingelheim.com/partnering

https://www.boehringer-ingelheim.com/partnering/working-together/partnering-interests

CardioMetabolic Diseases, CNS Diseases, Immunology, Oncology & Cancer Immunology, Respiratory Diseases, Retinal Health

Bristol Myers Squibb

https://www.bms.com/researchers-and-partners/partnering.html

https://www.bms.com/business-development/science-and-technology-areas-of-interest.html

Solid tumors, hematology, cardiovascular, immunology, fibrotic diseases, neuroscience, translational medicine, cell therapy

Celltrion

https://celltrion.com/en-us/contact/customer

https://celltrion.com/en-us/science/rndstudy

Biosimilars (cancer, autoimmune disease, Osteoporosis, Asthma, IBS, dyslipidemia), novel antibody drugs (infectious disease, cancer, autoimmune), vaccines, fusion technology

Chongqing Zhifei Biological Products

http://en.zhifeishengwu.com/about/hzhb/

http://en.zhifeishengwu.com/produce/zycp/

Vaccines

Chugai Pharmaceutical

https://www.chugai-pharm.co.jp/english/profile/strengths/index.html

https://www.chugai-pharm.co.jp/english/ir/rd/structure.html

Technology research and genetic analysis for therapeutic antibodies;

CSL Behring

https://www.csl.com/partnering

https://www.cslbehring.com/r-and-d/r-and-d-capabilities

Immunology, Hematology & Thrombosis, Transplant, Respiratory, Cardiovascular & Metabolic

CSPC Pharmaceutical Group

https://www.cspc.com.hk/en/contacts/contactus.php

https://www.cspc.com.hk/en/competence/strategies.php

Oncology, autoimmunity, psychiatry and neurology, digestion and metabolism, cardio-cerebrovascular system and anti-infectives

Daiichi Sankyo

https://www.daiichisankyo.com/about_us/partnerships/business_development/index.html

https://www.daiichisankyo.com/rd/strategy_operations/open_innovation/

https://www.daiichisankyo.com/rd/strategy_operations/open_innovation/our_interests/

Oncology, rare diseases (monogenic, non-monogenic), CNS, ophthalmology, chronic heart failure, immunology

Eisai Co

https://www.eisai.com/sustainability/partner/partnership/index.html

https://www.eisai.com/company/glance/index.html

Neurology, Oncology

Eli Lilly

https://www.lilly.com/partners/scientific-partnering

https://www.lilly.com/partners/scientific-areas-of-interest

Loxo Oncology, neurodegenerative disease, pain & migraine, diabetes and related complications, immunology, new therapeutic modalities

Fresenius SE

https://www.linkedin.com/company/freseniuskabi/

https://www.fresenius.com/fresenius-kabi

I.V. generic drugs, infusion therapies and clinical nutrition products, biosimilars (autoimmune disease, oncology), transfusion technology

Genmab

https://www.genmab.com/partnering/

https://www.genmab.com/research-innovation/antibody-technology-platforms/

Antibody therapeutics (cancer, autoimmune conditions, inflammation, central nervous system conditions and infectious diseases)

Gilead Sciences

https://www.gilead.com/utility/contact/partnership-request

https://www.gilead.com/science-and-medicine/medicines

HIV/AIDS, COVID-19, Liver Disease, Hematology/Oncology, Cardiovascular, Inflammation/Respiratory

GlaxoSmithKline

https://www.gsk.com/en-gb/partnerships/

https://www.gsk.com/en-gb/research-and-development/partnerships/our-areas-of-interest/

Respiratory, HIV/Infectious Disease, Vaccines, Oncology, Immune system, Human Genetics, Advanced Technologies

Horizon Therapeutics

https://www.horizontherapeutics.com/company/partnering

https://www.horizontherapeutics.com/science/research-development

Endocrinology, Nephrology, Neuroimmunology, Ophthalmology, Rare diseases, Rheumatology

Incyte

https://www.incyte.com/what-we-do/collaborate-partners-in-science

https://www.incyte.com/what-we-do/drug-development

Oncology, Inflammation, Autoimmunity

Japan Tobacco

https://www.torii.co.jp/en/contact/

https://www.torii.co.jp/en/company/research.html

Glucose and lipid metabolism, immune disorders and inflammation, virus research

Jiangsu Hengrui Medicine

http://www.shhrp.com/about/1345730403.html

http://www.shhrp.com/research/1345730683.html

Tumor and diabetes drugs, expand the field of protein and antibody biopharmaceuticals

Johnson & Johnson

https://jnjinnovation.com/innovation-centers

https://jnjinnovation.com/partnering/pharmaceuticals

Cardiovascular & Metabolism; Immunology; Infectious Diseases & Vaccines; Neuroscience; Oncology; and Pulmonary Hypertension

Kirin Holdings

https://www.kyowakirin.com/what_we_do/research_collaboration_licensing/index.html

https://www.kyowakirin.com/what_we_do/approach_for_innovation/index.html#anc-h5o-4
https://www.kyowakirin.com/what_we_do/index.html

Therapeutic antibodies (oncology, nephrology, central nervous system and immunology), small molecule drugs, nucleic acid drugs, regenerative medicine

Legend Biotech

https://legendbiotech.com/about/collaborations/

https://legendbiotech.com/research-development/

Oncology (hematologic malignancies and solid tumors)

LG Chem

https://www.lgchem.com/main/index

https://www.lgchem.com/upload/file/introduce/2021_Introduction_of_LGChem_EN[15].pdf

Has Life Science division with products in diabetes, cardiovascular, musculoskeletal, autoimmune, growth hormones, hepatitis B and pentavalent vaccines, aesthetics

Merck

https://www.merck.com/licensing/home.html

https://www.merck.com/research/index.html#WhatWereWorkingOn

Oncology, Vaccines, Infectious Diseases, COVID-19, cardio-metabolic disorders

Merck KGaA

https://www.emdgroup.com/en/company/partnering/collaboration/collaboration-in-healthcare.html

https://www.emdgroup.com/en/research/our-approach-to-research-and-development/healthcare/our-r-and-d-areas-of-focus.html

Oncology, Immuno-Oncology, Immunology, Multiple Sclerosis, Fertility

Moderna

https://www.modernatx.com/partnerships/strategic-collaborators

https://www.modernatx.com/research/therapeutic-areas

infectious diseases, immuno-oncology, rare diseases, cardiovascular diseases and autoimmune diseases

Novartis

https://www.novartis.com/our-company/novartis-partnering

https://www.novartis.com/our-focus

Oncology, Cardiovascular, Metabolic & Renal Diseases, Immunology & Dermatology, Neuroscience, Ophthalmology, Respiratory Diseases, Cell and Gene Therapy

Novo Nordisk

https://www.novonordisk.com/research-and-development/partner-with-us.html

https://www.novonordisk.com/disease-areas.html

Type 1 Diabetes, Type 2 Diabetes, obesity, growth disorders, hemophilia

Otsuka Holdings

https://www.otsuka.co.jp/en/partnering-and-licensing/inquiry-form/form

https://www.otsuka.co.jp/en/pharmaceutical-business/

Neuroscience, nephrology, autoimmune, oncology, gastrointestinal disorders, cardiovascular diseases, ophthalmology, dermatology

Pfizer

https://www.pfizer.com/partners

https://www.pfizer.com/science/therapeutic-areas

Internal Medicine, Rare Disease, Inflammation & Immunology, Vaccines, Oncology

Regeneron

https://www.regeneron.com/collaborations

https://www.regeneron.com/research-areas

Cardiovascular/Metabolic diseases, Infectious diseases, Inflammation and Immunology, Oncology, Hematology, Ophthalmology, Neurology, Rare Diseases

Roche Holding AG

https://www.roche.com/partnering/about_partnering_at_roche.htm

https://www.roche.com/partnering/pharma-areas-of-interest.htm

Oncology and cancer immunotherapy, immunology, infectious diseases, neuroscience, ophthalmology, rare diseases

Sanofi

https://www.sanofi.com/en/partnering

https://www.sanofi.com/-/media/Project/One-Sanofi-Web/Websites/Global/Sanofi-COM/Home/common/docs/science-and-innovation/SAN_Brochure_partnering_2021-Finale.pdf?la=en&hash=A77B0FEF1DD5A29C047DBF67045D5E6E

Immunology, Oncology, Neuroscience, Rare Diseases, Vaccines, Diabetes, Cardiovascular

Sarepta

https://www.sarepta.com/science/strategic-partners

https://www.sarepta.com/disease-areas

Rare genetic diseases (Duchenne muscular dystrophy, limb-girdle muscular dystrophies, and Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease)

Seagen

https://www.seagen.com/who-we-are/partnerships

https://www.seagen.com/patients-and-caregivers/disease-we-study

Hodgkin lymphoma, cutaneous and peripheral T-cell lymphoma (CTCL, PTCL), cancer (breast, lung, bladder, ovarian)

Shanghai Fosun Pharmaceutical Group

https://www.fosunpharma.com/en/innovation/alliance.html

https://www.fosunpharma.com/en/product/pharmacy-list.html

Metabolism and digestive tract, anti-tumor, anti-infective, CNS, cardiovascular, blood diseases, vaccine

Shionogi & Co

https://www.shionogi.com/global/en/innovation/partnering.html

https://www.shionogi.com/global/en/innovation/randd/drug-discovery/what-we-are-focusing-on.html

Infectious disease, pain CNC (novel mechanisms), novel modalities

Sun Pharmaceutical Industries

http://www.sunpharma.com/business-development

https://sunpharma.com/products/

CNS, Cardiovascular, Women Health, Dermatology, Ophthalmology, Oncology, Anti-Infectives and Gastro therapies, orphan indications

Takeda

https://www.takeda.com/what-we-do/alliances-partnerships/

https://www.takeda.com/what-we-do/therapeutic-areas/

Oncology, Rare Diseases, Neuroscience, and Gastroenterology (GI), Plasma-Derived Therapies, Vaccines

UCB

https://www.ucb.com/our-company/partnering/

https://www.ucb.com/disease-areas/

Neurology, immunology, rare diseases

United Therapeutics

https://www.unither.com/contact

https://pipeline.unither.com/

Pulmonary arterial hypertension, Pulmonary hypertension, and End-stage organ disease

Vertex Pharmaceuticals

https://www.vrtx.com/we-are-vertex/collaborations-partnering

https://www.vrtx.com/we-are-vertex/collaborations-partnering#areas-of-interest

Cystic fibrosis, Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency (AATD, Sickle Cell Disease and Beta Thalassemia, Pain, APOL1-Mediated Kidney Disease, new platform technologies that will enable exploration of new diseases or disease targets

Viatris

https://www.viatris.com/en/about-us/corporate-social-responsibility/partnerships

https://www.viatris.com/en/products/therapeutic-areas

Cardiovascular, CNS & Anesthesia, Dermatology, Diabetes & Metabolism, Eye Care, Gastroenterology, Immunology, Infectious Disease, Oncology, Respiratory & Allergy, Women's Healthcare

Yunnan Baiyao Group

https://www.linkedin.com/company/yunnan-baiyao-group-co-ltd

https://yunnanbaiyao.co/company-profile/

Chinese patent medicines, Chinese traditional medicines, biological products, health food, cosmetics and beverages, and medical devices


Table 2. Standardized pharma partnering interests


*Miscellaneous includes hospital, generics, internal medicine, orthopedics, medical devices, Chinese traditional medicine


Figure 1. Percentage of companies expressing interest in standardized therapeutic area.

 

Figure 2. Percentage change in companies expressing an interest in standardized therapeutic areas (2023 vs 2021).





Brief Partnering Primer

Whether or not your company is developing a therapeutic for a ‘hot’ indication or drug target, it is crucial to be prepared in advance of reaching out to potential partners. The entire partnering process for a pharmaceutical asset can take over a year to complete, depending on a number of factors such as the type of molecule and disease indication, how advanced the program is in development, what volume of data needs to be considered, how competitive the space is, and how complex the deal and contract terms are. Alacrita has considerable experience in supporting companies with partnering and can provide assistance across any or all components of the partnering process.

To ensure your asset is ready for partnering, we recommend the following initial workplan:

  • Build a virtual data room
  • Mock due diligence and gap analysis
  • Prepare non-confidential (NC) and confidential pitch decks
  • Identify and prioritize prospective partners for outreach

Alacrita can assist you with these steps, and our network of expert consultants ensures we have the scientific and business expertise on hand to highlight the strengths of your asset and express its value. If you are already in discussions with potential partners, we can provide you with a deal comparables analysis, sales forecast and rNPV asset valuation, and/or transactional support to ensure that deal terms are fair. Alternatively, if your company is in a position to in-license an asset, our team of asset scouting experts can help you source and evaluate assets that meet your search criteria and enable you to diversify your pipeline.

 

Pharma out-licensing, partnering, & deal-making support


We work with clients to ensure that partnership, licensing and investment decisions are taken with confidence, with clear alignment between transaction price and asset value. We also help many clients prepare for the partnering process, including with conducting partnerability assessments.

Click here for more information on our services