UK—Verdiva Bio, a clinical-stage firm, has secured an outstanding US$410 million in an oversubscribed Series A fundraising round aimed at treating obesity and other cardiometabolic conditions.
The launch of Verdiva comes at a time of growing demand for weight-loss treatments, spurred by the success of drugs like Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy (semaglutide) and Eli Lilly’s Zepbound (tirzepatide).
According to GlobalData, analysts project Wegovy to generate US$19.6 billion in sales by 2030, while Zepbound is expected to reach US$27.6 billion in the same period.
This funding was co-led by Forbion and General Atlantic, with additional support from prominent investors like RA Capital Management, OrbiMed, Logos Capital, Lilly Asia Ventures, and LYFE Capital.
This substantial investment will drive the development of Verdiva’s innovative pipeline of oral and injectable therapies, aiming to achieve first-in-class or best-in-class status.
Among its portfolio are assets licensed from China’s Sciwind Biosciences. Verdiva has secured global rights for these therapies, excluding Greater China and South Korea.
The portfolio includes advanced treatments, such as ecnoglutide, a Phase II-ready oral glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1RA).
It also features a promising oral amylin agonist and a long-acting subcutaneous amylin agonist.
These therapies are designed to support weight loss and maintenance, utilizing cutting-edge oral delivery technology to improve convenience, scalability, and access for patients worldwide.
Khurem Farooq, a seasoned leader previously heading Aiolos Bio and Gyroscope Therapeutics, has been appointed as Verdiva’s CEO.
He is joined by a leadership team with extensive experience in top-tier companies such as Aiolos Bio and Boehringer Ingelheim.
Additionally, Mark Pruzanski has been named chairman of the board.
Farooq highlighted the potential of Verdiva’s most advanced program, which could become a first-of-its-kind, once-weekly oral treatment for obesity.
“This treatment has the potential to dramatically improve access and affordability for patients,” he said.
Verdiva is also looking to expand its portfolio further through additional licensing deals, signaling ambitious plans in the obesity and cardiometabolic space.
This strategy mirrors a broader trend of Western biotech firms partnering with Chinese pharmaceutical companies to acquire innovative treatments.
Sciwind Biosciences and other Chinese firms have become key players in obesity drug development, collaborating with global giants like MSD and AstraZeneca.
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