AbbVie has completed its acquisition of Apogee Therapeutics, adding a portfolio of long-acting antibody programs to its immunology and inflammation pipeline as the pharmaceutical company looks to expand its position in dermatologic and respiratory diseases. Under the terms of the transaction, Apogee shareholders received $135.11 in cash for each share, putting the total equity value of the deal at approximately $10.9 billion. Apogee is now part of AbbVie following the completion of the transaction.

The acquisition brings with it a pipeline centered on established inflammatory pathways, with programs aimed at conditions including atopic dermatitis (AD), asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). At the center of the deal is zumilokibart, a late-stage monoclonal antibody designed to inhibit interleukin-13 (IL-13), a cytokine involved in type 2 inflammation. The program is being developed primarily for patients with atopic dermatitis and is designed to combine sustained drug exposure with less frequent administration.

Apogee’s Phase 2 data provided the foundation for the program’s development strategy. At 16 weeks, approximately two-thirds of treated patients achieved significant improvements in skin clearance, while the study also reported reductions in itching and broader disease activity. Longer-term findings from the trial have additionally pointed to the possibility of extended maintenance schedules, including dosing every three months or twice annually. The company has described the safety findings as consistent with the established profile of the drug class.

For AbbVie, the potential appeal of zumilokibart extends beyond atopic dermatitis. The company says the antibody could eventually be investigated across additional inflammatory diseases, providing opportunities to broaden its application if further clinical development supports those uses.

Apogee also brings a second IL-13-focused program that could expand the company’s presence in respiratory medicine. Known as APG273, the investigational therapy combines zumilokibart with APG333, an antibody directed against thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP). TSLP functions early in the inflammatory cascade associated with airway disease, making it an attractive target for controlling type 2 inflammation.

Early clinical findings have highlighted the durability of APG333. In a Phase 1 study, the antibody demonstrated a long half-life and continued suppression of relevant type 2 inflammatory biomarkers for as long as six months following administration. Those findings, together with interim Phase 1b results for zumilokibart in asthma, underpin plans to investigate APG273 as a potentially long-acting treatment option. The combination could ultimately be evaluated using quarterly or twice-yearly injections, depending on the results of subsequent clinical studies.

The acquisition therefore gives AbbVie more than a single late-stage asset. The company is gaining a collection of antibody programs built around validated inflammatory targets, with opportunities spanning both skin and respiratory diseases.

AbbVie Chairman and CEO Robert A. Michael says that the company intends to combine Apogee’s research capabilities with AbbVie’s development, regulatory and commercial infrastructure to advance the programs. With the transaction now closed, attention will shift to AbbVie’s execution of the Apogee portfolio and the clinical development of its long-acting immunology and respiratory candidates.

For more information, visit www.abbvie.com.