AbbVie entered a global licensing deal with Haisco worth up to $715 million to expand its pain pipeline with several assets.
AbbVie announced a global licensing agreement with China-based Haisco Pharmaceutical to manufacture, commercialize, and develop novel medicines for the treatment of pain.
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"This collaboration is highly aligned with our international development strategy and is expected to generate sustainable value and long-term returns," said Dr. Pangke Yan, chief executive officer of Haisco. "By partnering with a global biopharmaceutical leader such as AbbVie, Haisco aims to accelerate the global development of innovative pain therapies and deliver high-quality treatment options to patients worldwide."
The licensing deal enables AbbVie to strengthen both its neuroscience and pain portfolio through access to multiple investigational compounds developed by Haisco. Under the agreement, AbbVie gains exclusive rights to develop, manufacture, and commercialize the therapies globally, excluding mainland China, Hong Kong, and Macau.1
The program includes a portfolio of candidates targeting pain-related indications, currently spanning preclinical through Phase I development in China.1 As of April 14, 2026, neither company has released the details of which candidates were included in the deal.
The collaboration reflects AbbVie’s continued interest in expanding its pipeline in areas of high unmet need, particularly chronic pain, where treatment options remain limited and often carry safety or tolerability concerns.
By pairing Haisco’s early-stage assets with AbbVie’s global development and commercialization capabilities, the companies aim to accelerate the progression of these therapies into broader markets.1
Financial terms of the agreement include a $30 million upfront payment to Haisco, with the potential for upwards of $715 million in development, regulatory, and commercial milestone payments.1
Haisco is also eligible to receive tiered royalties on future global net sales. The structure reflects a typical risk-sharing model for early-stage assets, where larger pharmaceutical companies assume development and commercialization responsibilities in exchange for access to emerging innovation.
The deal also underscores the growing role of cross-border partnerships in drug development, particularly as Chinese biopharmaceutical companies seek to globalize their pipelines, and multinational firms look to diversify sources of innovation.
The licensing agreement continues AbbVie’s
Construction on the facilities is expected to begin in spring 2026, with operations slated to start in 2029.2 AbbVie plans to hire approximately 300 employees to support the expansion, including engineers, scientists, and manufacturing personnel.
“This milestone demonstrates further progress against our $100 billion commitment to U.S. R&D and capital investments over the next decade,” said Robert A. Michael, chairman and chief executive officer of AbbVie. “By strengthening our U.S. manufacturing capabilities, we are well-positioned to support our investment in innovation and enhance our ability to deliver next-generation medicines to patients.”
Together, the licensing agreement and manufacturing expansion highlight a dual strategy: bolstering the company’s pipeline through external innovation while building the infrastructure needed to support long-term growth and commercialization.
