-- UCB (UCB.BR) seeks to fortify its immunology portfolio by agreeing to purchase privately held biotechnology company Candid Therapeutics in a deal worth up to $2.2 billion.
The Belgian biopharmaceutical company will buy Candid Therapeutics for $2 billion upfront, with an additional payment of up to $200 million contingent on potential future milestones, according to a Sunday release. The deal is expected to close between the end of the second quarter and early third quarter, pending customary closing conditions.
The transaction is expected to have "manageable" financial impact and will not necessitate a revision of UCB's 2026 outlook, the company said. UCB maintained its full-year guidance of high single-digit to low double-digit revenue expansion on a constant currency basis.
As part of the proposed transaction, UCB will acquire Candid Therapeutics' lead asset, cizutamig, a bispecific antibody targeting B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA) on plasma cells and CD3 on T-cells. The investigational drug is currently undergoing phase 1 development for various autoimmune diseases.
"This exemplifies the next wave of therapies to treat immune mediated diseases and reflects our commitment to setting new standards to achieve immune reset. We consider cizutamig as a potential transformative asset that complements our existing programs and is poised to redefine treatment expectations for severe, underserved immune-mediated diseases, offering the potential to deliver meaningful improvements in patient outcomes and quality of life," UCB Chief Executive Officer Jean-Christophe Tellier said.
UCB's stock was down 1% in Brussels by Monday midday.