A roundup of news from the large and mid-sized bio/pharmaceutical companies featuring AbbVie and Fresenius. Highlights below.   

For the latest news roundup on small and Emerging Pharma companies, see Biotech Briefs. 

Mfg News
* Fresenius, WuXi Biologics in Biosimilars Pact
Partnering News
* AbbVie, Nxera in $1.5-Bn Deal for Small-Molecule IBD Drug 

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Mfg News 

Fresenius, WuXi Biologics in Biosimilars Pact 
Fresenius SE & Co. KGaA, a global healthcare company, has entered an exclusive development agreement with WuXi Biologics, a CDMO of biologics, for developing up to 37 biosimilar candidates over the next decade (as reported on November 2, 2026) to increase Fresenius’ biosimilars portfolio from 29 marketed and pipeline molecules currently to up to 66 molecules. The portfolio spans 13 therapeutic areas and multiple biologic technologies, including monoclonal and bispecific antibodies, antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), and fusion proteins and reflects more than EUR 370 billion ($415 billion) in originator sales.

Development programs will be selected and advanced against Fresenius’ selection criteria based on market attractiveness, development risk, and expected returns. Fresenius will hold exclusive global commercialization rights, including marketing authorizations, and the full economics of each commercialized product under the agreement. Initial development is expected to focus on polatuzumab vedotin, an ADC for treating diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, and teprotumumab, a monoclonal antibody for treating thyroid eye disease. Development activities are expected to be conducted using WuXi Biologics’ global network with facilities in the US, Europe, and Singapore. 

Fresenius will determine the long-term manufacturing strategy for each candidate, with optionality to use the network of mAbxience, a biosimilars developer and CDMO, which Fresenius fully acquired in late September 2026. The company acquired the remaining 45% of mAbxience it had not previously owned from Insud Pharma and Invim Corporativo for up to EUR 750 million ($842 million), including a contingent payment of EUR 50 million ($56 million) upon site-approvals. Fresenius had earlier acquired a 55% majority stake in mAbxience in August 2022.

Source: Fresenius SE & Co. KGaA 

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Partnering News

AbbVie, Nxera in $1.5-Bn Deal for Small-Molecule IBD Drug 
AbbVie has entered into an exclusive global license agreement with Nxera Pharma UK, a subsidiary of Nxera Pharma Co., Ltd, a Tokyo-based bio/pharmaceutical company, for Nxera’s NXE0033744, an oral, small-molecule drug candidate for treating inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), in a deal worth up to $1.47 billion ($100 million upfront and up to $1.37 billion in milestone payments).  

NXE0033744 is a small-molecule EP4 receptor agonist discovered by Nxera and in Phase I development. NXE0033744 is designed to selectively activate EP4 receptors locally in the gastrointestinal tract to induce anti-inflammatory effects and to promote epithelial barrier homeostasis and mucosal healing to potentially provide a differentiated mechanism of action from existing treatments. 

Under the agreement, AbbVie will receive exclusive rights to develop and commercialize NXE0033744 worldwide in IBD. Nxera will receive an upfront payment of $100 million and is also eligible to receive up to an additional $1.37 billion in development and commercial milestone payments, plus tiered royalties on net sales. This transaction is subject to customary antitrust clearances, including the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act.  

Source: Nxera Pharma