GSK’s liver asset play grows group of $1B upfront deals

Wednesday’s deal in which GSK is acquiring Boston Pharma’s lead asset is the second deal this year with more than $1 billion in upfront cash for a single asset. The deal for liver disease therapy efimosfermin is also among the eight largest upfront payments in a single-product deal since BioCentury began collecting deals data in 2009, all of which top $1 billion.

First place goes to Nimbus Therapeutics LLC, which sold the subsidiary housing its zasocitinib to Takeda Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. (Tokyo:4502; NYSE:TAK) for $4 billion in cash upfront. Nimbus, which sets up single-asset companies, is eligible for $2 billion in sales milestones. ...