Allergan 'Unusual Suspect' But Pipeline 'Hunger' A Perfect Match For Heptares

 
• By Sukaina Virji
  
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With Scrip still reeling from the news earlier this week that Pfizer and Allergan have called off their $160bn mega-merger, news broke that former darling of the UK biotech scene Heptares, now a wholly-owned subsidiary and the 'R&D engine' of Japanese company Sosei Group Corp., has secured a notable licensing deal with Allergan. Scrip caught up with Heptares CEO Malcolm Weir to get his take on the fall of PfizerGan (PfAllergan?), and of course the small matter of securing a partnership deal worth up to $3.34bn plus potential royalties.

With Scrip still reeling from the news earlier this week that Pfizer and Allergan have called off their $160bn mega-merger, news broke that former darling of the UK biotech scene Heptares, now a wholly-owned subsidiary and the 'R&D engine' of Japanese company Sosei Group Corp., has secured a notable licensing deal with Allergan. Scrip caught up with Heptares CEO Malcolm Weir to get his take on the fall of PfizerGan (PfAllergan?), and of course the small matter of securing a partnership deal worth up to $3.34bn plus potential royalties.

Under the agreement announced on April 6, Allergan has licensed exclusive global rights from Heptares to a broad portfolio of...

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