Acelyrin boosts immunology pipeline through acquisition of ValenzaBio

Acelyrin has acquired ValenzaBio, a privately held clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company, in an all-stock deal.

With the acquisition of ValenzaBio, the US- based late-stage clinical biopharma company, anticipates to add multiple clinical and pre-clinical development programs to its immunology pipeline, including a potentially differentiated therapeutic for the treatment of thyroid eye disease.

Acelyrin’s immunology portfolio is led by izokibep, which is a small therapeutic protein inhibitor of interleukin-17A (IL-17A) designed to overcome the limitations of monoclonal antibodies.

Shao-Lee Lin — Acelyrin founder and CEO said: “Acelyrin was founded a little over two years ago to identify, acquire, and accelerate the development and delivery of therapies with the potential to provide clinically meaningful, differentiated benefits to patients based on the science of the targets or characteristics of the molecules.

“The previously shared Phase 2 psoriatic arthritis data support our hypothesis that the characteristics of izokibep can lead to differentiated patient outcomes relative to current treatment options, and the results reported separately today for hidradenitis suppurativa now offer data in a second indication that further support that hypothesis.

“The acquisition of ValenzaBio adds additional programs to our portfolio, such as lonigutamab, which we believe similarly have the potential to offer clinically meaningful, differentiated benefits relative to current treatment options.”

Acelyrin also adds an additional asset VB-517 to its portfolio apart from Lonigutamab (VB-421), a subcutaneously delivered anti-IGF-1R currently being studied in a phase 1 clinical trial for Thyroid eye disease

VB-517 is a pre-IND anti-c-KIT, which is being assessed as a treatment option in Chronic Urticaria.

John Doux — ValenzaBio Board of Directors chairman said: “Since ValenzaBio was founded in 2019, the team has collectively identified and developed treatment candidates for a variety of underserved indications in a capital efficient fashion.

“I have longstanding respect for Shao-Lee and her colleagues at ACELYRIN, and firmly believe that they are best suited to further advance these immunology assets and transform how these diseases are treated.