A new, still-in-stealth biotech is paying eight figures to acquire the rights to an experimental I&I drug out of China.
Vignette Bio — a company backed by Foresite Capital and Samsara BioCapital, and whose website is still private —
is shelling out
$60 million upfront to license the program from EpimAb Biotherapeutics outside of China, Macau, Hong Kong and Taiwan, the duo announced Wednesday. There is an additional $575 million in biobucks included in the deal.
The program in question is called EMB-06, a BCMA-targeting T cell engager that binds to CD3, according to a press release. Vignette intends to develop it and other programs for autoimmune diseases, Foresite managing director Michael Rome said in the release.
EpimAb CEO Chengbin Wu also added that EMB-06 has been tested for multiple myeloma.
Foresite and Samsara did not immediately return
Endpoints News
’ requests for comment. Little else is known about Vignette Bio: The press release says it was founded in 2024 “to address immunology and inflammation associated diseases” and its website only reads, “Coming soon.”
Immunology-focused biotechs have been very active this year, with companies like Mirador and AltruBio netting
$400 million
and
$225 million
funding rounds, respectively. A Paragon Therapeutics spinout also agreed to a reverse merger that
included $275 million
in private financing, while Blackstone helped launch Uniquity Bio
with $300 million
.
Foresite and Samsara have also been part of the movement, teaming up earlier this year on a
$259 million Series C
for Alumis (previously Esker Therapeutics). The company went public shortly afterward. In June, Foresite
also closed
a $900 million life sciences fund, one of the largest biotech funds this year.