Biotechnology Acquisitions in Washington

TuHURA Biosciences (Nasdaq: HURA) completed the acquisition of Kineta, Inc., adding Kineta's Phase 2-ready VISTA inhibiting monoclonal antibody (now TBS-2025) to TuHURA's immuno-oncology pipeline. The deal was structured as a stock-for-stock merger and will enable TuHURA to initiate a Phase 2 trial and unlock further PIPE financing tranches tied to the transaction.

Alcon has acquired a majority interest in clinical-stage Aurion Biotech to accelerate development and commercialization of Aurion's allogeneic corneal cell therapy AURN001. Aurion will remain a separate company while leveraging Alcon's global R&D, regulatory and commercial capabilities to advance AURN001 into U.S. Phase 3 development in the second half of 2025.

Tidal Vision raised an oversubscribed $140 million Series B led by Cambridge Companies SPG with participation from Eni Next, Milliken & Company, KIRKBI Climate, Convent Capital, SWEN Capital Partners' Blue Ocean Fund, MBX Capital, IDO Investments (Oman Investment Authority) and others. The growth equity will fund expanded commercial-scale production, new facilities in Europe and the U.S. (Texas and Ohio), and accelerated R&D to scale chitosan-based biomolecular solutions for water treatment, agriculture, and materials markets globally.

Tenpoint Therapeutics Ltd. and Visus Therapeutics, Inc. completed a merger to combine their ophthalmic drug development programs, bringing the late-stage presbyopia candidate BRIMOCHOL PF together with Tenpoint’s broader aging-eye pipeline. The combined company is launching a crossover financing round with participation from institutional investors to support an NDA filing and a planned US commercial launch of BRIMOCHOL PF in the 1H of 2026. Henric Bjarke was named CEO of the merged company.

Quris-AI has acquired the assets of Nortis (formerly Numa Biosciences) to integrate Nortis's Kidney-on-Chip microphysiology systems into Quris-AI's Bio-AI clinical prediction platform. The acquisition will combine Nortis's validated in-vitro kidney models with Quris-AI's machine-learning models and expand access to publicly funded MPS data while continuing collaborations with research institutes, the FDA and pharmaceutical partners.

Vertex Pharmaceuticals will acquire Alpine Immune Sciences for $65 per share (approximately $4.9 billion) in cash. The acquisition adds Alpine’s lead candidate povetacicept (ALPN‑303) and protein-engineering/immunotherapy capabilities to Vertex’s pipeline and is expected to close in Q2 2024, subject to customary conditions.

Genmab A/S will acquire clinical-stage biotech ProfoundBio, Inc. in an all-cash transaction valued at USD 1.8 billion to obtain worldwide rights to ProfoundBio's pipeline of antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), including rinatabart sesutecan (Rina-S). The deal is intended to broaden and strengthen Genmab's oncology and ADC capabilities and is expected to close in the first half of 2024, subject to customary conditions.

Pfizer completed the acquisition of Seagen, acquiring all outstanding Seagen common stock for $229 per share in cash in a transaction valued at approximately $43 billion. The deal adds Seagen's ADC technology, four in-line oncology medicines and a large early-stage pipeline to Pfizer's oncology portfolio, expanding Pfizer's capabilities and doubling its oncology pipeline.

AstraZeneca has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Icosavax, a Seattle-based clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company, in a cash tender offer valuing the deal at approximately $0.8bn upfront and up to $1.1bn including contingent payments. The acquisition brings Icosavax's virus‑like particle (VLP) platform and Phase III‑ready combination RSV/hMPV vaccine candidate IVX‑A12 into AstraZeneca's Vaccines & Immune Therapies late‑stage pipeline to strengthen respiratory vaccine capabilities for older adults and vulnerable populations.

Swedish Orphan Biovitrum AB (Sobi) completed the acquisition of CTI BioPharma Corp. through a cash tender offer and subsequent merger, paying USD 9.10 per share for a transaction valued at up to USD 1.7 billion. CTI, a Seattle-based biopharmaceutical company with the FDA-approved product VONJO and ~144 employees, becomes an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Sobi and will be delisted from NASDAQ.

Novartis AG agreed to acquire Chinook Therapeutics for $40 per share in cash, with contingent value rights of up to $4 per share tied to regulatory milestones —bringing total consideration to as much as approximately $3.5 billion. The acquisition, approved by both companies' boards, brings Chinook's kidney-disease pipeline into Novartis' renal portfolio and was expected to close in the second half of 2023 subject to customary conditions.

Discovery Life Sciences has acquired Seattle-based ReachBio Research Labs to expand its cell biology, toxicology and drug screening capabilities. The acquisition strengthens Discovery's preclinical development and multi-omics service offering, enabling customers to access a broader set of predictive cell-based assays for hematologic diseases, immunology, oncology and cell & gene therapy programs.

AnaBios Corporation has acquired Cell Systems, a Kirkland, Washington supplier of human primary cells and cell culture media, to expand its human tissue and cell portfolio and accelerate translational drug discovery. Financing for the transaction was provided by AnaBios' existing investors, including Ampersand Capital Partners; financial terms were not disclosed.

Roche has entered into a definitive merger agreement to acquire Good Therapeutics, a Seattle-based privately held biopharmaceutical company, for an upfront $250 million plus milestone payments. The deal gives Roche rights to Good Therapeutics' conditionally active PD-1-regulated IL-2 program and an exclusive right to the platform for developing PD-1-regulated IL-2 receptor agonists; the transaction is expected to close in Q3 2022 subject to HSR clearance.

Amgen Inc. has agreed to acquire privately held Rodeo Therapeutics, a Seattle-based biopharmaceutical company focused on small-molecule modulators of prostaglandin biology, including a lead 15-PGDH program. The deal includes a $55 million upfront cash payment plus up to $666 million in potential contingent milestone payments and is intended to expand Amgen's inflammation and tissue-regeneration capabilities.

Sensei Biotherapeutics has completed the acquisition of Alvaxa Biosciences, a Seattle-based developer of camelid (alpaca-derived) nanobodies and related discovery libraries. The purchase brings Alvaxa's nanobody libraries, discovery expertise and a partnership with Hope Farms into Sensei's ImmunoPhage platform to expand its immuno-oncology capabilities.

Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited exercised its option to acquire PvP Biologics, Inc. following positive Phase 1 proof-of-mechanism results for TAK-062 (Kuma062), an oral engineered glutenase for celiac disease. The deal includes a pre-negotiated upfront payment and up to $330 million in development and regulatory milestones and brings TAK-062 and TAK-101 into Takeda's gastroenterology pipeline.

Thompson Street Capital Partners (TSCP), a St. Louis-based private equity firm, has partnered with management to acquire Seattle-based LifeSpan Biosciences, Inc. (LSBio), a developer and e‑commerce distributor of antibodies, kits, proteins and related reagents for academic and pharmaceutical research. TSCP said it will support LSBio's strategy to expand its catalog and capabilities organically and via targeted acquisitions; terms were not disclosed.

Probi AB, via its U.S. subsidiary Probi USA, Inc., signed an asset purchase agreement to acquire the operations of TNTGamble, Inc. (doing business as Nutraceutix) for a preliminary cash purchase price of USD 105 million. The acquisition substantially expands Probi’s North American presence, adds proprietary delivery technology and manufacturing capacity, brings ~200 customers and ~145 employees, and will be financed with cash, a credit facility and a bridge facility to be refinanced by a proposed SEK 600 million rights issue.

Brooks Automation, Inc. (Nasdaq: BRKS) signed a definitive agreement to acquire the assets and business of Matrical, Inc. for approximately $10 million in cash. The Spokane, Washington–based provider of biological sample preparation, management and storage solutions will join Brooks’ Life Science Systems business to expand its capabilities and penetration in the Agbio and broader life sciences markets.