LEO Pharma to Partner with Boehringer Ingelheim, Commercialize SPEVIGO® for GPP
Key Takeaways
Boehringer Ingelheim has announced a partnership with LEO Pharma to transfer global commercialization and development rights for SPEVIGO® (spesolimab).
SPEVIGO® is approved in over 40 countries for generalized pustular psoriasis (GPP) flares.
LEO Pharma and Boehringer Ingelheim have entered into an exclusive global license and transfer agreement for the development and commercialization of the interleukin-36 (IL-36) receptor inhibitor SPEVIGO® (spesolimab), according to a news release.
Under the agreement, LEO Pharma will assume full responsibility for the commercialization and continued development of SPEVIGO®. Boehringer Ingelheim will receive €90 million upfront, plus future milestone payments and tiered royalties. The transaction is expected to close in the second half of 2025, pending regulatory approval.
SPEVIGO® represents the first treatment approved specifically for GPP flares and has demonstrated efficacy in a randomized, placebo-controlled trial. Currently available in more than 40 countries, the therapy has been approved for GPP flares in the United States, European Union, China, and Japan, with additional indications under investigation.
“Bringing innovation to the GPP community reflects our purpose to transform lives,” said Shashank Deshpande, Chairman of the Board of Managing Directors and Head of Human Pharma at Boehringer Ingelheim, said in a news release. “To reach its full potential, SPEVIGO® requires the continued focus of a partner deeply committed to medical dermatology, and LEO Pharma is ideally suited to lead that next chapter.”
The news release added that SPEVIGO® represents a critical advancement in the therapeutic landscape for the underserved GPP population.
“Partnering to bring SPEVIGO® to more patients is more than a strategic step—it’s about changing lives," said LEO Pharma CEO Christophe Bourdon in the press release. "This agreement enables us to address a disease with limited options and deliver on our mission to improve quality of life for people with serious skin conditions.”
Source: B&I press release. July 14, 2025.