GlaxoSmithKline Breaks Out of Its Small-Molecule Mind-Set
This article was originally published in Start Up
Executive Summary
Following similar moves by many of its Big Pharma peers, GSK is buying into large molecules, big time. In December 2006, it paid $454 million in cash for next-generation antibody specialist Domantis. Later that month, the pharmaceutical firm committed over $2 billion in up-fronts, milestones, and equity for an antibody program from Genmab AS. For investors in privately held Domantis, whose most advanced drug candidate is preclinical, the acquisition was a much earlier than-anticipated exit.