v3.25.1
Licensing, Acquisitions and Other Arrangements
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2025
Licensing, Acquisitions, and Other Arrangements  
Licensing, Acquisitions, and Other Arrangements Licensing, Acquisitions and Other Arrangements
Acquisition of Nimble Therapeutics, Inc.
On January 23, 2025, AbbVie completed its acquisition of Nimble Therapeutics, Inc. (Nimble). Nimble is a biotechnology company dedicated to delivering on the promise of oral peptide therapeutics and its lead asset, an investigational oral peptide IL23R inhibitor, is in preclinical development for the treatment of psoriasis. The aggregate purchase price of $288 million was comprised of a $210 million upfront cash payment and $78 million for the acquisition date fair value of contingent consideration liabilities, for which AbbVie may owe up to $130 million in future payments upon achievement of certain development milestones. The transaction was accounted for as a business combination using the acquisition method of accounting. As of the acquisition date, AbbVie acquired $118 million of intangible assets and resulted in the recognition of $170 million of goodwill. Goodwill was calculated as the excess of the consideration transferred over the fair value of net assets recognized and represents the future economic benefits arising from other assets acquired that could not be individually identified and separately recognized, including expected synergies related to enhancement of AbbVie’s existing immunology discovery capabilities and development efforts. The goodwill is not deductible for tax purposes. Other assets acquired and liabilities assumed were insignificant.
Acquisition of Cerevel Therapeutics Holdings, Inc.
On August 1, 2024, AbbVie completed its acquisition of Cerevel Therapeutics Holdings, Inc. (Cerevel Therapeutics). Cerevel Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on the discovery and development of differentiated therapies for neuroscience diseases. Cerevel Therapeutics neuroscience pipeline included multiple clinical-stage and preclinical candidates with the potential to treat several diseases including schizophrenia, Parkinson's disease and mood disorders. The total fair value of the consideration transferred to owners of Cerevel Therapeutics common stock was $8.7 billion ($8.3 billion, net of cash acquired). The acquisition of Cerevel Therapeutics was accounted for as a business combination using the acquisition method of accounting and the valuation of assets acquired and liabilities assumed was finalized during the three months ended March 31, 2025.
Acquisition of ImmunoGen, Inc.
On February 12, 2024, AbbVie completed its acquisition of ImmunoGen, Inc. (ImmunoGen). ImmunoGen is a commercial-stage biotechnology company focused on the discovery, development and commercialization of antibody-drug conjugates (ADC) for cancer patients. ImmunoGen's oncology portfolio included its flagship cancer therapy Elahere, a first-in-class ADC approved for platinum-resistant ovarian cancer, and a pipeline of promising next-generation ADC's targeting hematologic malignancies and solid tumors. The total fair value of the consideration transferred to owners of ImmunoGen common stock was $9.8 billion ($9.2 billion, net of cash acquired). The acquisition of ImmunoGen was accounted for as a business combination using the acquisition method of accounting and the valuation of assets acquired and liabilities assumed was finalized during the three months ended December 31, 2024.
Other Licensing & Acquisitions Activity
Cash outflows related to other acquisitions and investments totaled $334 million for the three months ended March 31, 2025 and $190 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024.
The following table summarizes acquired IPR&D and milestones expense:
Three months ended
March 31,
(in millions)
20252024
Upfront charges$246 $79 
Development milestones85 
Acquired IPR&D and milestones$248 $164 
Gubra A/S
Subsequent to March 31, 2025, AbbVie completed its previously announced licensing agreement with Gubra A/S. Under the terms of the agreement, AbbVie will receive an exclusive global license to develop and commercialize GUB014295 (ABBV-295), a long-acting amylin analog for the treatment of obesity. AbbVie made an upfront payment of $350 million which will be recorded in acquired IPR&D and milestones expense in the condensed consolidated statement of earnings in the second quarter of 2025. AbbVie could make additional payments of up to $1.9 billion upon achievement of certain development, regulatory and commercial milestones and pay tiered royalties.
AbbVie entered into several other individually insignificant collaborations, licensing agreements or other asset acquisitions in which the related upfront payments were recorded in acquired IPR&D and milestones expense.