11 March 2026
DLA Piper advises Alfasigma on US$690 million global licensing deal for rare disease therapy
DLA Piper advised global pharmaceutical company Alfasigma on a licensing agreement with global biopharma company GSK, granting Alfasigma worldwide exclusive rights to develop, manufacture, and commercialize linerixibat, an investigational therapy for a rare autoimmune liver disease.
Alfasigma is a global pharmaceutical company with established capabilities in specialty care and rare diseases. Linerixibat is being developed to treat cholestatic pruritus – severe itching – in patients with primary biliary cholangitis. The drug has received orphan drug designation in the United States, European Union, and Japan, as well as priority review status in China. The licensing agreement is valued at up to US$690 million.
“Strategic licensing agreements such as this are critical to advancing potential treatments for rare diseases, particularly as orphan-designated drugs approach regulatory review,” said Lauren Murdza, Co-Chair of DLA Piper’s Technology and Life Sciences Licensing and Commercial Transactions practice, who led the deal team. “Drawing on our deep regulatory and transactional experience, our cross-border team delivered coordinated, focused counsel on this complex licensing arrangement.”
In addition to Murdza, the deal team included Partners Andrew Gilbert, Ryan Harrison, and Associate James McGraw.
DLA Piper’s Emerging Growth and Venture Capital practice includes more than 200 lawyers who provide strategic counsel to emerging companies and venture capital firms in high-growth industries, including technology, healthcare, life sciences, and financial services. Over the last three years, DLA Piper has completed more than 2,100 financings globally, totaling more than US$80 billion. The firm is ranked among the most active global law firms for venture capital deal volume, according to PitchBook.
With more than 400 life sciences professionals worldwide, DLA Piper deliver seamless, tailored solutions across every stage of the business lifecycle. Our team includes medical doctors, PhDs, and industry veterans who bring extensive scientific and legal knowledge and experience to every challenge. We combine modern insights with an expansive geographic footprint to help clients anticipate risk, maximize opportunity, and stay ahead in a rapidly evolving landscape. Whether navigating complex regulations or defending innovation, we work as one—offering bold, agile strategies and value-added counsel that keep science on your side.
Alfasigma is a global pharmaceutical company with established capabilities in specialty care and rare diseases. Linerixibat is being developed to treat cholestatic pruritus – severe itching – in patients with primary biliary cholangitis. The drug has received orphan drug designation in the United States, European Union, and Japan, as well as priority review status in China. The licensing agreement is valued at up to US$690 million.
“Strategic licensing agreements such as this are critical to advancing potential treatments for rare diseases, particularly as orphan-designated drugs approach regulatory review,” said Lauren Murdza, Co-Chair of DLA Piper’s Technology and Life Sciences Licensing and Commercial Transactions practice, who led the deal team. “Drawing on our deep regulatory and transactional experience, our cross-border team delivered coordinated, focused counsel on this complex licensing arrangement.”
In addition to Murdza, the deal team included Partners Andrew Gilbert, Ryan Harrison, and Associate James McGraw.
DLA Piper’s Emerging Growth and Venture Capital practice includes more than 200 lawyers who provide strategic counsel to emerging companies and venture capital firms in high-growth industries, including technology, healthcare, life sciences, and financial services. Over the last three years, DLA Piper has completed more than 2,100 financings globally, totaling more than US$80 billion. The firm is ranked among the most active global law firms for venture capital deal volume, according to PitchBook.
With more than 400 life sciences professionals worldwide, DLA Piper deliver seamless, tailored solutions across every stage of the business lifecycle. Our team includes medical doctors, PhDs, and industry veterans who bring extensive scientific and legal knowledge and experience to every challenge. We combine modern insights with an expansive geographic footprint to help clients anticipate risk, maximize opportunity, and stay ahead in a rapidly evolving landscape. Whether navigating complex regulations or defending innovation, we work as one—offering bold, agile strategies and value-added counsel that keep science on your side.