Global "Life Sciences" Royalty Rates & Deal Terms Survey
2018 Survey now available!
Survey Highlights
- 101 deals analyzed, involving pharmaceutical companies (24%), biotechnology companies (4%), academic institutions (21%), government (8%), and other organizations (45%).
- Survey respondents represented 10 of the 31 Licensing Executive Society International (LESI) Societies.
- 18% of the submitted deals were completed in 2016 , 43% were completed in 2017, and 40% were completed in 2018 Year to Date.
- 76% of reported deals were reported by the licensors.
- 55% of deals were related to Injectable products, and 26% small molecules .
Exclusively available to LES members!
Members, please login to view the full reports.
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2024 Royalty Rate & Deal Terms Survey Link
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Administration
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9/23/2025
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2024 Royalty Rate & Deal Terms Executive Summary
PDF (1.44 MB)
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Administration
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9/23/2025
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2021 Royalty Rate & Deal Terms Survey Link
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Administration
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9/23/2025
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LES Life Sciences Sector Royalty Rates & Deal Terms Survey
The survey went out to approximately 2,469 LES members and 17,431 non-members, resulting in a higher response rate of 6.3% compared with 5% in 2014. A total of 155 specific intellectual property deals transacted between 2014 and 2017 were analyzed. Deals of all types were submitted including sales and licenses; out-licenses and in-licenses; lump sum and running royalty; and flat and tiered loyalty.
"The valuable data we've gathered through the LES Life Sciences Sector Royalty Rates & Deal Terms Survey is not available from other public and commercial sources and reveals much more insight into the dynamics of the licensing market, given that we have the unique ability to analyze and compare the transaction-level data going back to 2008," said Jack Lu, Ph.D., CFA, LES Senior Vice President of Economic Analysis and Survey, and a Partner and Chief Economist of IPMAP, LLC
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2021 Royalty Rate & Deal Terms Executive Summary
PDF (588.18 KB)
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Administration
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9/23/2025
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2018 Royalty Rate & Deal Terms Executive Summary
PDF (730.16 KB)
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Administration
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9/23/2025
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2018 Survey Highlights
A total of 101 completed surveys were incorporated into the final Global Life Sciences Survey Report.
Of those who responded, 24% were from pharmaceutical companies, 4% were from biotech companies, 21% were from academic institutions, 8% were from government, and 45% were from other organizations.
Survey respondents represented 10 of the 31 Licensing Executives Society International (LESI) Societies
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2018 Royalty Rate & Deal Terms Survey Link
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Administration
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7/31/2023
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2016 Royalty Rate & Deal Terms Executive Summary
PDF (581.31 KB)
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Administration
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9/23/2025
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2016 Survey Highlights
A total of 117 completed surveys were incorporated into the final Global Life Sciences Survey Report.
Of those who responded, 19% were from pharmaceutical companies, 12% were from biotech companies, 22% were from academic institutions, 11% were from government, and 36% were from other organizations.
Survey respondents represented 8 of the 33 Licensing Executives Society International (LESI) Societies
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2016 Royalty Rate & Deal Terms Survey Link
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Administration
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7/31/2023
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2014 Royalty Rate & Deal Terms Executive Summary
PDF (129.12 KB)
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Administration
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9/23/2025
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2014 Survey Highlights
A total of 128 completed surveys were incorporated into the final Global Life Sciences Survey Report.
Of those who responded, 16% were from pharmaceutical companies, 19% were from biotech companies, 20% were from academic institutions, 7% were from government, and 38% were from other organizations.
Approximately 64% of the deals were considered “Global” in scope.
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2014 Royalty Rate & Deal Terms Survey Link
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Administration
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9/23/2025
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2009 Royalty Rate & Deal Terms Executive Summary
PDF (455.72 KB)
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Administration
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9/23/2025
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Survey Highlights
A total of 184 completed surveys were incorporated into the final Global BioPharma Survey Report with over 40% of the reported deals from outside North America. This is a 20% increase in response from 2008.
Of those who responded, 39% were from pharmaceutical companies, 23% were from biotech companies, 12% were from academic institutions, 6% were from government, and 20% were from other organizations.
The survey report provides a detailed analysis on fixed royalties, tiered royalties, deal terms, valuation methods, and therapeutic areas.
Over 80% of the deals submitted had licenses that included the United States and close to 63% of licenses were considered “Global” in scope. Sixty-one percent of the deals were reported by the licensors and 82% of the deals were categorized as exclusive.
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2008 Royalty Rate & Deal Terms Executive Summary
PDF (449.12 KB)
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Administration
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9/23/2025
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Survey Highlights
Over 150 deals analyzed, involving pharmaceutical companies (28%), biotechnology companies (26%), and academic Institutions (35%).
120 deals completed in 2006 or 2007
Key Deal Terms
Small Molecule compounds were included in more than 50% of all deals submitted
88% of deals were exclusive
54% of deals included a fixed royalty; 33% included tiered royalty rates
80% included an upfront payment
90% of deals included U.S. rights; 70% were worldwide
57% of products covered have estimated peak sales of less than $100M
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