Leo Corp Co. Ltd.

L-R: Ignasi Biosca, CEO of Reig Jofre, and Juan Fran Cuello de Oro, general manager of LEO Pharma Iberia LEO Pharma and Reig Jofre have entered into a partnership aimed at improving access to LEO’s psoriasis treatment in Europe. The commercial agreement will focus on strengthening the promotion of Enstilar, an aerosol spray foam containing the vitamin D analogue calcipotriol and betamethasone dipropionate, for mild-to-moderate psoriasis within the scope of primary care across Spain. Approximately 125 million people worldwide are affected by some form of psoriasis, a chronic inflammatory condition that typically affects the skin, nails and joints. Up to 90% of patients have plaque psoriasis, characterised by distinct round or oval plaques typically covered by silvery-white scales. LEO’s fixed-dose combination therapy is designed to improve anti-psoriatic response in patients and has been recognised by Farmaindustria, the national association of the pharmaceutical industry in Spain, as an “incremental innovation” due to its advanced foam-based formulation. The collaboration between LEO and Reig Jofre will help extend the treatment’s reach, improve patient access and enhance support for healthcare professionals. “This agreement marks a significant milestone in positioning Reig Jofre and LEO Pharma as key players in medical dermatology in Spain,” Reig Jofre outlined in a statement, adding that the partnership “ensures that healthcare professionals receive the support, proximity and information needed to provide the best possible care to their patients”. LEO has already entered into a number of partnerships this year. Last month, it announced a collaboration with non-profit organisation DEBRA Research aimed at accelerating the development of treatments for epidermolysis bullosa, a group of rare and painful inherited skin disorders that cause the skin to become very fragile and tear or blister very easily. Though financial details of the alliance were not disclosed, the partners said they are hoping to “enhance scouting capabilities and provide additional capacity to accelerate the development of life-changing therapies for epidermolysis bullosa”. The company also partnered with Gilead Sciences in January to advance its small molecule oral STAT6 programme for inflammatory diseases. The deal, worth $1.7bn, gave Gilead global rights to develop, manufacture and commercialise the oral STAT6 programme. Meanwhile, LEO will hold exclusive global rights to STAT6 topical formulations in dermatology, and will have the option to co-commercialise oral programmes for dermatology indications outside the US.

LEO Pharma and non-profit organisation DEBRA Research have announced a collaboration aimed at accelerating the development of treatments for epidermolysis bullosa (EB). The non-exclusive strategic partnership will combine LEO’s experience in medical dermatology with DEBRA’s focus on EB patient care and pharmaceutical experience. Though financial details of the alliance have not been disclosed, the partners said they are hoping to “enhance scouting capabilities and provide additional capacity to accelerate the development of life-changing therapies for EB”. There is currently no cure for EB, a group of rare and painful inherited skin disorders that cause the skin to become very fragile and tear or blister very easily. Treatments are limited to relieving symptoms and preventing complications developing, such as infection. Jacob Pontoppidan Thyssen, chief scientific officer and executive vice president at LEO, said: “Having personally cared for patients with severe EB, I have experienced the devastating consequences firsthand.” He continued: “We are proud to collaborate with DEBRA Research, whose vast experience in the pharmaceutical industry and commitment to advancing medical research are invaluable. Together, we can do so much more.” Also commenting on the partnership, Hubert Truebel, managing director at DEBRA Research, said: “This collaboration provides an excellent opportunity for us to combine our expertise and resources, enabling us to make meaningful advancements in the battle against EB. We are excited about the potential impact of this partnership…” The announcement comes less than a month after LEO partnered with Gilead Sciences to advance its small molecule oral STAT6 programme for inflammatory diseases. The deal, worth $1.7bn, gave Gilead global rights to develop, manufacture and commercialise the oral STAT6 programme. Meanwhile, LEO will hold exclusive global rights to STAT6 topical formulations in dermatology, and will have the option to co-commercialise oral programmes for dermatology indications outside the US. The company also recently received an approval from the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency for its Anzupgo (delgocitinib) cream in chronic hand eczema. The treatment was specifically authorised for use in adults with moderate-to-severe cases of the inflammatory skin disease for whom topical corticosteroids are inadequate or inappropriate.

LEO Pharma will be gaining the rights to commercialise Junshi Biosciences’ toripalimab in Europe under a new distribution and marketing partnership. The collaboration is aimed at increasing the accessibility of the PD-1 inhibitor, which is designed to help the immune system fight cancer. The drug, sold under the brand name Loqtorz, was approved by the European Commission (EC) and Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) last year as part of a first-line combination treatment for certain adults with recurrent or metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma. More than 120,434 new cases of the rare form of cancer, which affects the part of the throat connecting the back of the nose to the back of the mouth, were reported globally in 2022. Toripalimab was also approved by both regulators in 2024 as part of a first-line combination treatment for adults with unresectable advanced, recurrent or metastatic oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma. LEO will now be responsible for toripalimab’s distribution, promotion and sales in all EU and European Economic Area member states, as well the UK and Switzerland. TopAlliance Biosciences Europe will remain the marketing authorisation holder for toripalimab in Europe and will receive an upfront fee from LEO. The Junshi subsidiary will also be eligible for milestone payments if LEO wants to pursue any subsequently approved indications for the drug. Jean Monin, executive vice president of LEO’s thrombosis business unit at LEO, said: “The distribution and marketing partnership for [toripalimab] brings an important new treatment option to areas of high unmet medical need and focuses on a specialty hospital product that complement our existing heparin-based anti-coagulation treatments for cancer-associated thrombosis and other specialty patients.” Sheng YAO, senior vice president of Junshi Biosciences and chief executive officer of TopAlliance Biosciences, added: “By leveraging both parties’ strengths in research and development, manufacturing and commercialisation, we believe toripalimab will be efficiently integrated into the Europe markets benefitting local patients-in-need.” The agreement comes less than two weeks after LEO partnered with Gilead Sciences to advance its small molecule oral STAT6 programme for inflammatory diseases. The deal, worth $1.7bn, gave Gilead global rights to develop, manufacture and commercialise the oral STAT6 programme. Meanwhile, LEO will hold exclusive global rights to STAT6 topical formulations in dermatology, and will have the option to co-commercialise oral programmes for dermatology indications outside the US.