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Getting the latest healthcare news for you
Danish drugmaker LEO Pharma is betting big on rare skin diseases, snapping up worldwide rights to dersimelagon from Tanabe Pharma for up to $435 million. The experimental oral drug targets erythropoietic protoporphyria (EPP) and X-linked protoporphyria (XLP) — rare genetic disorders causing extreme sunlight sensitivity. If FDA-approved as early as 2027, it would be the first oral treatment for both conditions.
LEO Pharma is doubling down on rare genetic skin diseases. The Danish drugmaker has agreed to acquire worldwide rights to dersimelagon — an experimental oral drug — from Tanabe Pharma for up to $435 million in up-front and near-term milestone payments, with additional downstream milestones and tiered royalties on net sales also on the table.
Dersimelagon targets erythropoietic protoporphyria (EPP) and X-linked protoporphyria (XLP), rare genetic disorders that cause debilitating sensitivity to sunlight. The drug works by boosting melanin production to shield patients from painful light-induced reactions. If approved, it would be the first oral treatment available for either disease — a meaningful step forward for a patient population with very limited options.
By the Numbers:
Why it matters: With no oral treatments currently available for EPP or XLP, dersimelagon could be a game-changer for thousands of patients living with these rare, painful conditions. The deal also signals LEO Pharma's aggressive push into rare disease — a high-value, underserved space — as it eyes a potential stock market listing.
