Merck Castoff Revived by $300M Blackstone-backed Uniquity

Blackstone Life Sciences has announced a significant investment of up to $300 million in its portfolio company, Uniquity Bio, to advance its immunology and inflammation programs, primarily focusing on its leading asset, solrikitug. Uniquity Bio, a startup that emerged from stealth mode on Wednesday, intends to utilize this funding to push solrikitug, an anti-TSLP antibody acquired from Merck & Co., into Phase II clinical trials for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has already approved the initiation of these studies.

The anti-TSLP space has garnered interest from other pharmaceutical giants as well. AstraZeneca and partner Amgen have achieved approval for their Tezpire (Tezepelumab) antibody in the U.S. and EU for the treatment of severe asthma. Additionally, GSK is poised to compete in this arena following its acquisition of Aiolos Bio and its mid-stage anti-TSLP monoclonal antibody, AIO-001, for up to $1.4 billion earlier this year.

Uniquity Bio emphasizes the pivotal role of TSLP as a "master switch" cytokine that regulates the inflammatory cascade. This positioning suggests that solrikitug could have broad applications in various immunology and inflammation treatments. According to Uniquity, the mid-stage development program for solrikitug is scheduled to commence "in the next month." The company's pipeline also comprises an early-stage program targeting an undisclosed gastrointestinal condition.

Uniquity Bio portrays itself as an agile startup, boasting a business model designed to facilitate the development of "high-potential medicines" through diverse collaborative structures aimed at maximizing value. The company released a statement on Wednesday highlighting its approach to development, which combines the scientific rigor and quality standards typical of a global pharmaceutical company with the operational agility of a biotech startup. Uniquity CEO Brian Lortie emphasized that this approach enables the company to move swiftly without compromising on quality.

In addition to its investment in Uniquity Bio, Blackstone has recently pledged up to $750 million to support Moderna's mRNA-based vaccine programs targeting influenza. This move underscores Blackstone's commitment to advancing innovative healthcare solutions across different therapeutic areas.