Express | Approximately US$3 billion in autoimmune disease drug pipeline, Horizon plans to acquire Viela Bio

▎The content team editor of WuXi AppTec today, Horizon Therapeutics and Viela Bio announced that they have reached an agreement under which Horizon will acquire Viela Bio for approximately US$3.
05 billion.

Horizon will harvest Viela Bio’s approved anti-CD19 monoclonal antibody Uplizna (inebilizumab-cdon) for the treatment of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disease (NMOSD), a variety of research therapies in the research and development pipeline, and Viela Bio’s autoimmune Scientific expertise in sexual diseases and profound experience in biological product development.

Viela Bio received US$250 million in Series A financing in February 2018, independently from MedImmune.

The company is committed to developing precision therapies for the treatment of autoimmune diseases.

The research and development direction mainly focuses on three biological pathways related to various autoimmune diseases, namely the autoantibody pathway, the CD40/CD40L costimulatory pathway, and the innate immune pathway.

The company's Uplizna (inebilizumab-cdon), which was approved last year, can eliminate B cells that produce autoantibodies by binding to CD19.

Currently, it is also used in phase 3 clinical trials for the treatment of myasthenia gravis and IgG4-related diseases, and in phase 2 clinical trials for the treatment of kidney transplant desensitization.

The company’s research therapy VIB4920 is an anti-CD40L fusion protein that can block the CD40/CD40L costimulatory pathway.
It is currently in phase 2 clinical trials for the treatment of Sjogren’s syndrome, renal transplant rejection and rheumatoid arthritis .

VIB7734 is a monoclonal antibody designed to eliminate plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDC).

pDC is a cell type that is considered essential to the pathogenesis of many autoimmune diseases.

Phase 2 clinical trials of VIB7734 for the treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) are expected to begin in the first half of 2021.

▲Viela Bio's research and development focus on the treatment of a variety of autoimmune diseases (picture source: reference [2]) Mr.
Tim Walbert, chairman, president and chief executive officer of Horizon said: "Incorporating Viela Bio's research and clinical development capabilities, And the integration of its deep biological product pipeline into our experienced R&D and commercial teams will promote our transformation into an innovation-driven biotechnology company.

We plan to maximize the full potential of the Viela pipeline, including the pursuit of more future adaptations .
disease
"Viela Bio, chairman and CEO Dr.
Yao Zhengbin said:" we are delighted Horizon recognize that our research and development pipeline, the value of approved drugs Uplizna and our talent team.

we believe that our collective R & D expertise plus Horizon’s commercial capabilities may provide benefits to more patients with highly unmet need for treatment.

"Note: This article is intended to introduce medical and health research, not a treatment plan recommendation.

If you need guidance on treatment plans, please go to a regular hospital for treatment.

Reference: [1] Horizon Therapeutics plc to Acquire Viela Bio, Inc.
to Significantly Expand Development Pipeline and Grow Rare Disease Medicine Portfolio.
Retrieved February 1, 2021, from https:// /en[2] Horizon acquisition of Viela Bio.
Retrieved February 1, 2021, from https://ir.
horizontherapeutics.
com/static-files/6332f7c1-2225-4e3b-b9a9-e3dfd82085b0