AbbVie has announced it will acquire Apogee and its diverse pipeline of multiple clinical-stage candidates in development across inflammatory and immunological diseases, including atopic dermatitis (AD) and asthma.
The acquisition complements AbbVie’s existing immunology portfolio and accelerates AbbVie’s clinical presence in the respiratory space.
Robert Michael, chairman and CEO at AbbVie, said: “The acquisition of Apogee further builds on our existing leadership, strengthening our ability to deliver innovative medicines to patients who need better options while also creating significant long-term value for shareholders. Apogee’s pipeline adds highly differentiated clinical-stage assets, further expanding our robust immunology portfolio in areas of significant patient need, including atopic dermatitis and asthma.”
Apogee’s lead asset, zumilokibart (APG777), is a late-stage, half-life extended monoclonal antibody targeting IL-13, in development for patients with atopic dermatitis (AD).
Zumilokibart targets IL-13, a critical cytokine in type 2 inflammation and a central driver of inflammatory diseases like AD and asthma. Specifically in AD, a large majority of patients do not achieve simultaneous itch and skin improvement, which represents an opportunity for the development of novel treatments that not only provide better skin clearance and itch resolution but also improve convenience with less frequent dosing.
Apogee’s pipeline also includes combinations of its novel antibodies: APG273, a potential best-in-category long-acting combination targeting IL-13 and thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP), is being developed in asthma.
Michael Henderson, CEO at Apogee, commented: “Since our founding, we’ve focused on developing transformative therapies for patients with inflammatory diseases. We believe AbbVie can advance zumilokibart and our portfolio while expanding their impact for patients worldwide.”
The transaction is expected to close in the third quarter of 2026.