Uniquity Bio Reveals $300M Backing from Blackstone for Asthma and COPD

Blackstone Life Sciences has announced the launch of Uniquity Bio, a clinical-stage company specializing in drug development for immunology and inflammation. The company is set to introduce its Phase II-ready therapeutic candidate, solrikitug, with significant financial backing.

Uniquity Bio will benefit from up to $300 million in capital promised by Blackstone to support the advancement of its investigational new drug application for solrikitug. This monoclonal antibody, which was in-licensed from Merck, targets the thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) cytokine. TSLP is known as a "master switch" at the top of the inflammatory cascade, and solrikitug acts to prevent its binding.

The company’s focus is to trial solrikitug across various respiratory and gastrointestinal conditions. Approved by the FDA for clinical trials, Uniquity Bio will initiate a Phase II study within the coming month to assess its efficacy for treating chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma. These conditions affect over 260 million people worldwide.

Uniquity Bio's CEO, Brian Lortie, expressed optimism about solrikitug’s potential impact, highlighting its prospects as a transformative treatment for patients with limited options. He emphasized the anticipation of progressing into the next phase of development.

Kiran Reddy, Senior Managing Director at Blackstone Life Sciences, also highlighted the strategic approach of the investment firm. He noted that the launch of Uniquity Bio with a Phase II-ready therapeutic aligns with Blackstone’s strategy of providing expertise and substantial capital to expedite the mission and development of its portfolio companies.

Furthermore, Blackstone has a history of investing in promising biopharma ventures. In March 2024, the firm entered a $750 million agreement with Moderna to advance an mRNA-based flu program, aimed at reducing the biopharma’s R&D expenses. This deal includes provisions for Blackstone to receive commercial milestone payments and low-single digit royalties on product sales.

Blackstone is known for targeting lower-risk, high-potential blockbuster products and boasts an above-average success rate in securing FDA approvals for its investments. The markets for COPD and asthma, which Uniquity Bio is entering, are considered to have significant blockbuster potential. However, the company’s monoclonal antibody will face competition in the anti-TSLP market, which is currently dominated by Amgen and AstraZeneca’s Tezspire. Tezspire was approved by the FDA in 2021 for severe asthma and recorded sales of $173 million in the first quarter of 2024, marking an 80% year-over-year increase.

Additionally, in January 2024, GSK announced a $1.4 billion acquisition of Aiolos Bio, which is developing a monoclonal antibody targeting TSLP with the potential for biannual administration. This product has already shown promise in early clinical trials.

The launch of Uniquity Bio and the development of solrikitug represent significant strides in addressing chronic respiratory and gastrointestinal diseases, with the backing of substantial capital and expertise from Blackstone Life Sciences.