Leo Pharma to market AstraZeneca’s brodalumab outside Europe

Leo Pharma has acquired the rights to develop and market psoriasis treatment brodalumab outside Europe. 

The Danish dermatology specialist already has an ongoing licensing agreement with AstraZeneca to develop and market the drug in Europe, with Leo Pharma having successfully launched the brodalumab in 18 countries.

The new agreement with Bausch Health Ireland Limited will allow Leo Pharma to expand brodalumab into countries with significantly high unmet need, including Australia, Brazil, Egypt, Mexico, Russia and Saudi Arabia.

According to Leo Pharma, around 125 million people globally live with psoriasis, a chronic and inflammatory disease that is immune-mediated. In particular, there is high unmet need for people suffering with plaque psoriasis, which is the most common type, with those suffering from it facing an increased risk of developing other conditions including heart disease and metabolic syndrome.

“This new agreement underlines our commitment to expand our successful dermatology portfolio into innovative therapies and new indications,” said Catherine Mazzacco, president and CEO of LEO Pharma.

“The burden of living with psoriasis is often underestimated, and we want to help patients at all stages of their condition. With the brodalumab agreement, we are bringing a new option to many more people across the globe living with psoriasis,” she added.

However, Bausch Health still retains the rights to develop and market brodalumab within the US and Canada. The rights to the psoriasis treatment are owned by Kyowa Kirin in Japan and other Asian countries.

Leo Pharma has had approval for brodalumab in the EU, which it markets under the name Kyntheum, since 2017. At that time, it was the first and only biologic drug that targets the IL-17 receptor. The treatment also received approval in the US for the same indication at the same time, where it is marketed as Siliq.

The psoriasis market is becoming increasingly crowded, with newcomers Taltz from Eli Lilly and Tremfya from Johnson & Johnson demonstrating dramatically improved outcomes in the condition.

Abbvie’s Humira (adalimumab) and J&J’s Stelara (ustekinumab) remain the leaders in the market due to the strength of their ability to quickly clear up to 75% of lesions in most patients.