AbbVie Acquires Nimble Therapeutics in $200 Million Deal to Strengthen Immunology Pipeline

AbbVie has announced plans to acquire Nimble Therapeutics in a $200 million deal. The acquisition brings Nimble’s pioneering oral peptide IL23R inhibitor, currently in preclinical development for psoriasis, and a robust portfolio of autoimmune disease therapies.

Beyond expanding its drug pipeline, AbbVie gains access to Nimble’s cutting-edge peptide synthesis platform, designed to accelerate the discovery and optimization of novel oral therapeutics. This deal underscores AbbVie’s commitment to addressing unmet needs in autoimmune diseases, leveraging innovative technologies to deliver transformative solutions for patients worldwide.

"The addition of Nimble's pipeline to AbbVie's existing pipeline, combined with our deep clinical and translational expertise in immunology, represents an important growth opportunity. Together, AbbVie and Nimble have the potential to help address the significant unmet medical need for people living with autoimmune diseases" said Jonathon Sedgwick, SVP and Global Head of Discovery Research at  AbbVie.

Nimble's preclinical-stage IL23R inhibitor is an investigational oral therapy for the treatment of psoriasis and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). IL23R is a clinically validated therapeutic target in certain autoimmune diseases and a major contributing factor to psoriasis and IBD pathogenesis and progression through increased inflammation and amplified immune responses.

"Nimble Therapeutics is committed to transforming the discovery of oral peptide-based medicines. With AbbVie's world-class expertise in developing and commercializing medicines on a global scale, Nimble's novel oral therapies will be well-positioned to reach more people living with autoimmune diseases," said Jigar Patel, Founder and CEO of Nimble Therapeutics.

Under the terms of the agreement, AbbVie will make a cash payment of $200 million at closing to acquire Nimble, subject to certain customary adjustments, in addition to certain interim funding payments. Nimble's shareholders remain eligible for a potential payment, subject to the achievement of a development milestone. 

The transaction is subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions, including the applicable waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act. Nimble is backed by founding investors Telegraph Hill Partners and Roche Ventures.