LEO Pharma and Boehringer Ingelheim have entered into a partnership to commercialise and advance the development of Boehringer’s generalised pustular psoriasis (GPP) drug Spevigo (spesolimab).

The exclusive global licensing and transfer agreement, which is expected to close later this year, will see dermatology specialist LEO take on responsibility for the commercialisation and further development of Spevigo, using its global commercial platform to raise disease awareness and secure access for GPP patients.

In exchange, Boehringer is set to receive €90m upfront, alongside undisclosed milestone payments and tiered royalties.

GPP is a rare and unpredictable skin condition characterised by recurrent flares of pustules covering large areas of the body.

Spevigo is a selective antibody that blocks the activation of the interleukin-36 (IL-36) receptor, a signalling pathway within the immune system shown to be involved in the pathogenesis of several auto-inflammatory diseases.

It is the first approved treatment for GPP flares that specifically targets the IL-36 pathway and is currently available in more than 40 countries.

LEO’s chief executive officer, Christophe Bourdon, said: “Partnering to bring Spevigo to more patients is more than a strategic step – it means the opportunity to help people living with GPP by addressing a disease with limited treatment options and aiming to improve their quality of life.”

The alliance extends beyond GPP, with an opportunity to evaluate the drug in additional skin conditions in which IL-36 is implicated.

Shashank Deshpande, chairman of the board of managing directors and head of human pharma at Boehringer Ingelheim, said: “Spevigo holds a significant promise, and ensuring it reaches its full potential requires continued focus, and expertise in medical dermatology.

“With over six decades of singular dedication to this field, LEO Pharma is exceptionally well-positioned to build on the strong foundation we’ve laid.”