UCB to Acquire Neurona Therapeutics for up to $1.15 Billion to Advance Epilepsy Cell Therapy

UCB Acquires Candid Therapeutics

May 3, 2026

Biotechnology

UCB has agreed to acquire Candid Therapeutics, a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on T-cell engagers for autoimmune and inflammatory diseases, for up to $2.2 billion including $2.0 billion upfront. Two River and Vida Ventures, part of the Bellco Health ecosystem, highlighted their roles in founding and early development of Candid following the announced acquisition.

Neurocrine Biosciences to Acquire Celeno Therapeutics

April 7, 2026

Healthcare Services

Neurocrine Biosciences entered into a definitive all-cash agreement to acquire Celeno Therapeutics for approximately $2.9 billion. The deal is structured as a tender offer and is expected to close within ~90 days, subject to Hart-Scott-Rodino antitrust clearance and a majority of Celeno shares being tendered.

Bruker Corporation to Acquire Neurescence Inc.

November 12, 2022

Healthcare Services

Bruker Corporation has signed a definitive agreement to purchase 100% of the shares of Neurescence Inc., an ultralight fiber-bundle Multiscopes provider for simultaneous multi-region optical functional neuroimaging. The acquisition is expected to create synergies with Bruker’s multiphoton and head-mounted miniscope offerings, expanding its reach in freely behaving animal imaging and photostimulation.

UCB to Acquire Zogenix for up to $1.9B

January 19, 2022

Pharmaceuticals

UCB (Euronext: UCB) has agreed to acquire Zogenix, Inc. (NASDAQ: ZGNX) in a cash tender offer valuing the deal at up to approximately US$1.9 billion, consisting of US$26.00 per share in cash plus a contingent value right of up to US$2.00 per share tied to regulatory milestones. The acquisition adds Zogenix's FINTEPLA (fenfluramine) — an approved treatment for seizures associated with Dravet syndrome and under review for Lennox-Gastaut syndrome — to UCB's neurology and rare disease portfolio and is expected to expand UCB's epilepsy pipeline and global commercial reach.

UCB Acquires Engage Therapeutics

June 5, 2020

Pharmaceuticals

Belgium-based biopharma UCB has acquired Summit, New Jersey-based Engage Therapeutics for an upfront cash payment of US$125 million plus up to US$145 million in milestone payments, gaining worldwide rights to Staccato Alprazolam. The acquisition adds a late-stage, drug-device rescue therapy candidate for epilepsy to UCB's neurology portfolio and includes updated license and supply agreements with Alexza Pharmaceuticals.

BioNTech Acquires Neon Therapeutics

January 16, 2020

Biotechnology

BioNTech SE will acquire Neon Therapeutics, Inc. in an all-stock transaction valued at approximately $67.0 million. Neon, a Cambridge-based developer of neoantigen-targeted T cell therapies, will become a wholly owned subsidiary of BioNTech to expand BioNTech’s T cell therapy capabilities and U.S. presence.