AbbVie Inc. entered into an exclusive licensing agreement with Haisco Pharmaceutical Group Co., Ltd. that gives AbbVie worldwide rights to develop, manufacture and commercialize a portfolio of pain‑related compounds, except in mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau.
The agreement includes a $30 million upfront payment and up to $715 million in milestone payments, bringing the total potential value to roughly $745 million. AbbVie will also receive tiered royalties on net sales of any approved products.
The deal is a key element of AbbVie’s strategy to diversify its pipeline beyond its core Humira franchise. By adding early‑stage pain assets that are in pre‑clinical to Phase 1 development, AbbVie expands into a high‑growth therapeutic area that is increasingly competitive, with rivals such as Vertex and Eli Lilly pursuing non‑opioid pain treatments.
Haisco CEO Dr. Pangke Yan said the partnership “is highly aligned with our international development strategy and is expected to generate sustainable value and long‑term returns.” He added that the collaboration will accelerate the global development of innovative pain therapies and deliver high‑quality treatment options to patients worldwide.
Analysts view the licensing deal as a positive step in AbbVie’s pipeline diversification, though investor attention remains focused on the company’s recent guidance cuts. The partnership signals AbbVie’s continued effort to broaden its therapeutic footprint and mitigate the impact of Humira’s patent cliff.
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