AbbVie completes acquisition of Pharmacyclics

The acquisition enhances AbbVie’s scientific and commercial presence in oncology – Pharmacyclics is a leader in the haematological oncology market with Imbruvica® (ibrutinib), a first-in-class BTK-inhibitor used to treat haematological cancers, a $24 billion global market.

Imbruvica is approved for use in four indications in the US and is the only product to have received three Breakthrough Therapy designations by the US Food and Drug Administration. As part of a worldwide partnership with Janssen Biotech, Inc., Imbruvica is now approved in nearly 50 countries. Imbruvica is in mid- and late-stage development for additional haematological oncology indications, with more than 60 clinical trials underway. Imbruvica is also in early-stage development for solid tumours.

Pharmacyclics acquisition has the potential to transform the haematological cancer treatment landscape

“The Companies’ shared expertise, combined with AbbVie’s broad late-stage oncology pipeline, has the potential to transform the cancer treatment landscape for haematological malignancies and improve patient outcomes and quality of life,” said Richard A. Gonzalez, chairman and chief executive officer, AbbVie.  “Today marks a significant step forward in our effort to become a leader in oncology and meaningfully augment our long-term growth strategy. The Pharmacyclics team has built an important and rapidly growing franchise with significant long-term potential across a range of haematological cancers.”

Across its oncology pipeline, AbbVie has five late-stage assets in clinical development positioned to launch within the next several years. Two programmes, venetoclax, a Bcl-2 inhibitor, and duvelisib, a dual PI3 kinase inhibitor, are in development for haematological cancers. AbbVie intends to explore these assets in combination with Imbruvica to evaluate the potential for meaningful improvement beyond the current standard of care. 

Pharmacyclics will be a wholly-owned subsidiary of AbbVie.