Kyorin picks Novartis amid innovative push; Abbvie taps Gubra for obesity: Deals Report

Pharma deals for an immunology asset from Japan and a metabolic program from Denmark were among the highlights of a busy week for licensing, discovery and development agreements.

Early Monday, Kyorin Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. (Tokyo:4569) said Novartis AG (SIX:NOVN; NYSE:NVS) is paying $55 million up front for a global license to an MRGPRX2 antagonist to treat mast cell-related disorders, including chronic spontaneous urticaria. The molecule, KRP-M223, is still preclinical; Novartis will shoulder the costs of its development...