Biogen announced Friday it has acquired global rights to privately held Vanqua Bio's experimental drug for inflammatory disorders in a deal worth up to $1.06 billion, marking another significant investment in the company's expanding immunology portfolio.
The oral drug candidate targets a protein involved in various inflammatory disorders and is currently in preclinical testing. Under the licensing agreement, Vanqua Bio will receive an upfront payment of $70 million and is eligible for up to $990 million in additional payments upon achieving specific development, regulatory, and commercial milestones.
Strategic Expansion into Immunology
The acquisition aligns with Biogen's broader strategy to diversify its drug portfolio through immunology and rare disease medicines. The company has been actively pursuing acquisitions and partnerships to drive revenue growth as sales of its older multiple sclerosis drugs continue to decline due to rising competition.
"This agreement strengthens Biogen's immunology strategy by advancing a proven immune mechanism with the potential to address a broad range of inflammatory disorders with high unmet need," the company stated.
Development Timeline and Responsibilities
Biogen will assume full responsibility for all future development, manufacturing, and commercialization efforts for the candidate. The drugmaker expects to file a human trial application with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 2027, indicating a multi-year development pathway ahead.
Recent Acquisition Activity
This deal follows Biogen's acquisition strategy in the immunology space. Last year, the company agreed to purchase privately held Human Immunology Biosciences for up to $1.8 billion to gain access to its experimental drug being tested for rare immune-related conditions.
The Vanqua Bio licensing agreement represents Biogen's continued commitment to building a robust immunology pipeline as it seeks to offset declining revenues from its legacy multiple sclerosis franchise and position itself for future growth in high-need therapeutic areas.
