Vera Therapeutics has announced a significant refinancing milestone, securing a new $500 million credit facility with Oxford Finance LLC that substantially improves the company's financial position ahead of its anticipated atacicept commercial launch. The late-stage biotechnology company, focused on developing treatments for serious immunological diseases, will replace its existing $50 million credit facility with this expanded arrangement.
The initial funding of $75 million is expected to close on June 4, 2025, with the new facility offering considerably more favorable terms than the previous arrangement. The refinancing reduces borrowing costs by 320 basis points based on current interest rates, with the facility maturing five years from the closing date. Interest will be paid monthly at a rate equal to 1-month SOFR plus 4.95%, subject to a SOFR floor of 3.75%.
Enhanced Capital Structure and Milestone-Based Funding
The new credit facility provides $450 million of discretionary incremental capacity available across five tranches, offering Vera strategic flexibility in accessing capital. From January 1, 2026 through December 31, 2026, the company may draw up to $50 million at its discretion without additional performance milestones.
Additional tranches are tied to atacicept's regulatory and commercial progress. Vera can access $75 million upon accelerated approval of atacicept in immunoglobulin A nephropathy (IgAN), followed by two $50 million tranches post-accelerated approval subject to commercial milestones. The facility also includes up to $200 million available at the mutual discretion of Vera and Oxford.
The refinancing extends the interest-only period by up to 42 months and maturity by up to 41 months. As a result, Vera will no longer be required to make principal payments in 2026, significantly improving the company's cash flow management during the critical commercial launch period.
Atacicept Development Progress and Commercial Timeline
Marshall Fordyce, M.D., Founder and CEO of Vera Therapeutics, highlighted the company's recent clinical milestone: "We have crossed a significant Vera milestone with the primary endpoint results from the pivotal atacicept ORIGIN 3 trial; and given the data we presented earlier, we expect this to enable a BLA submission to the FDA in the fourth quarter of this year, which may allow for approval and commercial launch in 2026."
Atacicept is a fusion protein administered as a subcutaneous injection once weekly that blocks both B-cell Activating Factor (BAFF) and A PRoliferation-Inducing Ligand (APRIL). These pathways stimulate B cells to produce autoantibodies contributing to autoimmune diseases, including IgAN and lupus nephritis.
Dr. Fordyce expressed confidence in atacicept's potential impact: "If approved, we believe that atacicept has the potential to advance the standard of care in IgA nephropathy. The Vera team is well-positioned to build on the success of the lead atacicept development program in IgAN, with the expansion into additional potential indications in other autoimmune kidney diseases and beyond."
Strategic Financial Management
Sean Grant, Chief Financial Officer of Vera, emphasized the strategic value of the refinancing: "Our partnership with Oxford over the past three years has been key to supporting Vera's growth and we are happy to continue this incredibly productive relationship. We are also very pleased to be able to execute this non-dilutive transaction in today's market environment with Oxford."
The refinancing was executed through a competitive process that secured favorable terms while eliminating exit fees from the existing credit facility. The transaction reduces prepayment and final-payment fees and, combined with the reduced interest rate, results in a cost-effective refinancing that significantly lowers Vera's cost of capital.
According to the company, the refinancing enhances Vera's ability to generate cash and manage its capital structure efficiently while providing additional working capital flexibility to support commercial launch and strategic initiatives. The improved financial structure positions the company to capitalize on atacicept's commercial potential while maintaining operational flexibility for expansion into additional indications.
