PDL BioPharma Inc discovers and develops humanized monoclonal antibodies and receives royalties from nine marketed products licensed under PDL patents. The ESP Pharma acquisition brought marketed products to PDL in 2005, but because of a lack of strategic fit, PDL sold its commercial assets in early 2008. After paying a special dividend to shareholders, PDL has spun off its drug-discovery and -development business and plans to continue distributing royalty-based income to shareholders.