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The Weekly Term Sheet (2026-W02)

The second week of 2026—dominated by the 44th Annual J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference in San Francisco—delivered over $12 billion in announced transaction value despite the conspicuous absence of any transformational M&A
The Weekly Term Sheet (2026-W02)

The Week in Context

The halls of the Westin St. Francis were buzzing with deal speculation, yet the mega-mergers that analysts predicted failed to materialize. Rumored targets including Revolution Medicines, Arcus Biosciences, and Syndax Pharmaceuticals remained independent as acquirers opted for billion-dollar licensing deals over outright acquisitions.

What did emerge was a clear pattern: Western pharma companies are increasingly willing to pay substantial upfronts—$50 million to $650 million—to access Asia-originated innovation, particularly in oncology. Four of the five largest transactions announced during the week involved Chinese biotech partners, continuing a trend that accelerated throughout 2025.

The week also showcased the growing intersection of artificial intelligence and drug discovery, highlighted by NVIDIA and Eli Lilly's announcement of a $1 billion co-innovation lab and AstraZeneca's acquisition of AI biotech Modella—the first such deal by a major pharmaceutical company.

Mergers & Acquisitions

AstraZeneca Acquires Modella AI — First AI Company Acquired by Major Pharma

On January 13, AstraZeneca announced the acquisition of Modella AI, a San Francisco-based artificial intelligence company specializing in multi-modal foundation models for oncology biomarker discovery. The transaction marks a historic milestone: the first outright acquisition of an AI company by a major pharmaceutical company.

Financial terms were not disclosed, but the deal represents the culmination of a multi-year collaboration initiated in July 2025. Under that partnership, Modella developed AI agents capable of integrating genomics, proteomics, medical imaging, and clinical data to identify novel biomarkers predicting patient response to AstraZeneca's oncology portfolio.

Element Details
Acquirer AstraZeneca plc (LSE: AZN)
Target Modella AI (San Francisco, CA)
Transaction Value Not disclosed
Expected Close Q1 2026
Strategic Rationale Integrate AI foundation models into oncology R&D
Financial Advisors Not disclosed
Legal Advisors Not disclosed

Modella's platform leverages transformer-based architectures trained on proprietary datasets spanning millions of patient samples. The company's AI agents can autonomously design biomarker hypotheses, validate them against real-world evidence, and generate testable predictions for clinical development teams. AstraZeneca plans to deploy these capabilities across its oncology franchise, including Tagrisso (osimertinib) for EGFR-mutant lung cancer, Imfinzi (durvalumab) for various solid tumors, and Enhertu (trastuzumab deruxtecan) for HER2-expressing cancers.

AbbVie Acquires West Pharmaceutical Services Arizona Facility

Also on January 12, AbbVie announced an agreement to purchase a drug-delivery device manufacturing facility in Tempe, Arizona from West Pharmaceutical Services for approximately $175 million.

The facility produces West's proprietary SmartDose on-body injector platform, which enables subcutaneous delivery of large-volume biologics (up to 3.5 mL) via a wearable device. This technology is critical for AbbVie's expanding immunology and oncology injectable portfolio, including Skyrizi (risankizumab) and Rinvoq (upadacitinib).

Element Details
Acquirer AbbVie Inc. (NYSE: ABBV)
Seller West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. (NYSE: WST)
Asset Tempe, AZ manufacturing facility
Transaction Value ~$175 million
Technology 3.5 mL SmartDose® on-body injector platform
Employees ~200 positions to be created
Expected Close Mid-2026

The acquisition supports AbbVie's commitment to invest more than $10 billion in U.S. manufacturing capacity over the next decade, responding to both policy incentives and supply chain resilience concerns that emerged during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Licensing & Collaboration Deals

The licensing landscape was dominated by transactions with Chinese biotechs, reflecting Western pharma's growing appetite for Asia-originated innovation—particularly in oncology modalities like bispecific antibodies, antibody-drug conjugates, and radioligand therapies.

AbbVie / RemeGen — $5.6 Billion for PD-1/VEGF Bispecific

The week's largest transaction came on January 12 when AbbVie and China's RemeGen Co., Ltd. (HKEX: 9995) announced an exclusive licensing agreement for RC148, a PD-1/VEGF bispecific antibody, with a total deal value of up to $5.6 billion.

Under the terms, AbbVie will pay RemeGen $650 million upfront—one of the largest upfront payments for a Phase 2 oncology asset—plus up to $4.95 billion in development, regulatory, and commercial milestones. RemeGen will also receive tiered double-digit royalties on net sales outside Greater China, where it retains full commercial rights.

Deal Component Value
Upfront Payment $650 million
Development & Regulatory Milestones ~$1.55 billion
Commercial & Sales Milestones ~$3.4 billion
Total Potential Value $5.6 billion
Royalty Structure Tiered double-digit (estimated 10–22%)
Territory AbbVie: worldwide ex-Greater China

Legal Advisors:

About RC148 — The Science

RC148 is a bispecific antibody that simultaneously binds PD-1 (programmed cell death protein 1) on T cells and VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor) in the tumor microenvironment. This dual mechanism addresses a fundamental limitation of checkpoint inhibitor monotherapy.

PD-1 inhibitors like Keytruda (pembrolizumab) and Opdivo (nivolumab) have transformed oncology, but durable responses occur in only 15–20% of solid tumor patients. A key reason: VEGF creates an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment by promoting regulatory T cells (Tregs), myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs), and abnormal tumor vasculature that excludes effector T cells.

By simultaneously blocking PD-1 and neutralizing VEGF, RC148 aims to "release the brakes" on anti-tumor immunity while simultaneously normalizing the tumor microenvironment to permit T cell infiltration. Early clinical data in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and colorectal cancer (CRC) have shown encouraging response rates in PD-1 refractory patients.

RC148 Clinical Profile Details
Format Bispecific antibody (IgG-like architecture)
Targets PD-1 + VEGF
Mechanism Checkpoint inhibition + anti-angiogenesis
Development Stage Phase 2
Lead Indications NSCLC, colorectal cancer
Differentiation Active in PD-1 refractory tumors
Regulatory FDA approved Phase 2 trial initiation (August 2025)

AbbVie plans to evaluate RC148 in combination with its antibody-drug conjugate portfolio, including telisotuzumab vedotin (ABBV-399), a c-Met-targeting ADC in Phase 2 for NSCLC. The combination of a bispecific checkpoint inhibitor with a tumor-targeted cytotoxic payload represents a potentially synergistic approach to solid tumor therapy.

Novartis / SciNeuro — $1.7 Billion Alzheimer's Partnership

On the same day, Novartis announced a global licensing and co-development agreement with SciNeuro Pharmaceuticals for a next-generation anti-amyloid beta antibody utilizing proprietary blood-brain barrier shuttle technology.

The deal includes a $165 million upfront payment to SciNeuro plus up to $1.5 billion in development, regulatory, and commercial milestones, bringing the total potential value to $1.7 billion. SciNeuro will also receive tiered royalties on worldwide net sales.

Deal Component Value
Upfront Payment $165 million
Development Milestones Undisclosed breakdown
Regulatory Milestones Undisclosed breakdown
Commercial Milestones Undisclosed breakdown
Total Milestones Up to $1.5 billion
Total Potential Value ~$1.7 billion
Royalty Structure Tiered (estimated high single-digit to mid-teens)
Territory Worldwide
Regulatory Subject to HSR antitrust clearance

About SciNeuro's Blood-Brain Barrier Shuttle — The Science

The blood-brain barrier (BBB) presents a formidable challenge for Alzheimer's therapeutics. Current anti-amyloid antibodies like Leqembi (lecanemab) and Kisunla (donanemab) achieve only 1–2% brain penetration, requiring high systemic doses that may contribute to amyloid-related imaging abnormalities (ARIA)—brain swelling and microhemorrhages that occur in up to 35% of patients.

SciNeuro's proprietary shuttle technology uses a bispecific design that binds both the therapeutic target (amyloid-beta) and the transferrin receptor expressed on brain endothelial cells. This enables receptor-mediated transcytosis—essentially hijacking the brain's natural iron transport mechanism to ferry the antibody across the BBB.

Preclinical data suggest this approach can achieve 10–30x higher brain concentrations compared to conventional antibodies, potentially allowing lower systemic dosing while maintaining therapeutic CNS levels. This could translate to improved efficacy and reduced ARIA risk.

SciNeuro Technology Details
Platform Blood-brain barrier shuttle (transferrin receptor-mediated)
Format Bispecific antibody
Target Amyloid-beta plaques and oligomers
Brain Penetration 10–30x improvement vs. conventional antibodies
Development Stage Preclinical to early Phase 1
Key Advantage Potential for lower systemic doses and reduced ARIA

Under the collaboration structure, SciNeuro will participate in early-stage development, after which Novartis will assume responsibility for global clinical trials and commercialization. The deal reflects Novartis's renewed interest in neuroscience following the spin-off of its generics business and the strategic repositioning toward innovative medicines.

Novartis / Zonsen PepLib — Radioligand Therapy Expansion

In a "double-take" that surprised conference attendees, Novartis announced a second major licensing deal on the same day—this time with China's Zonsen PepLib Biotech for an undisclosed peptide-based radioligand therapy (RLT).

Novartis paid $50 million upfront for worldwide exclusive rights, with additional development, regulatory, and commercial milestones plus tiered royalties (amounts not disclosed).

Deal Component Value
Upfront Payment $50 million
Milestones Undisclosed (estimated $500M–$1B)
Royalties Tiered (rates not disclosed)
Territory Worldwide exclusive
Asset Undisclosed peptide-based RLT

About Radioligand Therapy — The Science

Radioligand therapies represent one of the fastest-growing modalities in oncology. These agents consist of a tumor-targeting ligand (typically a small molecule or peptide) conjugated to a therapeutic radioisotope—most commonly lutetium-177 (beta emitter) or actinium-225 (alpha emitter).

Upon binding to tumor-expressed targets, the radioisotope delivers localized cytotoxic radiation to cancer cells while minimizing systemic exposure. The approach has been validated by Novartis's own Pluvicto (lutetium-177 vipivotide tetraxetan), which targets PSMA in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer and generated $2.3 billion in 2025 sales.

Zonsen PepLib specializes in cyclic peptide discovery using proprietary phage display and medicinal chemistry platforms. Their peptides serve as targeting vectors that can be conjugated to various payloads, including radioisotopes, cytotoxic drugs, or imaging agents. The specific target and indication for the Novartis-licensed asset were not disclosed, but the deal expands Novartis's RLT pipeline beyond PSMA-targeting agents into new tumor types.

Nuvation Bio / Eisai — Taletrectinib European License

Nuvation Bio (NYSE: NUVB) and Eisai Co., Ltd. announced on January 12 an exclusive licensing agreement for taletrectinib (marketed as IBTROZI® in the United States), a next-generation ROS1 inhibitor.

Under the deal, Eisai gains exclusive commercialization rights across Europe, the Middle East, North Africa, Russia, Turkey, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and select Asian markets. Nuvation retains U.S. commercial rights and global development leadership.

Deal Component Value
Upfront Payment €50 million (~$60 million)
Regulatory Milestone €25 million (upon EU approval)
Sales Milestones Up to €120 million
Total Potential Value €195 million (~$230 million)
Royalty Structure Low-to-high teens (10–19%), tiered
Territories to Eisai Europe, MENA, Canada, ANZ, select Asia

This deal provided the most detailed public disclosure of royalty terms among JPM week transactions, with Nuvation confirming royalties in the low-to-high teens range—valuable benchmarking data for the industry.

About Taletrectinib — The Science

Taletrectinib is a highly selective tyrosine kinase inhibitor targeting ROS1 (c-ros oncogene 1) and NTRK1/2/3 (neurotrophic tyrosine receptor kinases). ROS1 gene fusions occur in approximately 1–2% of non-small cell lung cancers, representing roughly 30,000 new diagnoses annually in Eisai's licensed territories.

The drug received full FDA approval in June 2025 based on the Phase 2 TRUST-II trial, which demonstrated an objective response rate of 91% in treatment-naïve ROS1-positive NSCLC patients and 52% in patients previously treated with crizotinib.

Taletrectinib Clinical Profile Details
Drug Class Tyrosine kinase inhibitor
Primary Target ROS1
Secondary Targets NTRK1/2/3
Approved Indication ROS1-positive metastatic NSCLC
ORR (treatment-naïve) 91%
ORR (crizotinib-pretreated) 52%
Formulation Oral, once-daily
Key Differentiation Active against G2032R solvent-front mutation

Critically, taletrectinib demonstrates activity against the G2032R solvent-front mutation—the most common resistance mechanism to first-generation ROS1 inhibitors like Xalkori (crizotinib). This positions taletrectinib as a potential treatment option for patients who progress on existing therapies.

Eisai plans to file a Marketing Authorization Application with the European Medicines Agency in H1 2026, with potential approval in 2027. The drug is already licensed to Innovent Biologics in China and Nippon Kayaku in Japan.

Vaximm / BCM Europe — $845 Million Immunotherapy Deal with Crypto Twist

In one of the more unusual transactions of the week, OSR Holdings (OTCQB: OSRH) announced that its Swiss subsidiary Vaximm AG secured a binding term sheet with BCM Europe AG for exclusive worldwide rights to VXM01, an oral T-cell immunotherapy targeting cancer.

The deal includes a $30 million upfront payment—with 50% paid in cash and 50% in cryptocurrency or digital assets—plus up to $815 million in development and commercial milestones. A royalty-sharing arrangement will govern commercial sales.

Deal Component Value
Upfront Payment $30 million (50% cash, 50% crypto)
Development Milestones Up to $415 million
Commercial Milestones Up to $400 million
Total Potential Value ~$845 million
Structure Royalty-sharing arrangement
Definitive Agreement Target May 2026

The partial payment in digital assets represents an unprecedented structure in biopharma licensing. BCM Europe AG is described as a newly formed, investor-backed Swiss entity, though details about its financial backing remain limited. The deal is contingent on an independent fairness opinion before definitive agreement execution.

About VXM01 — The Science

VXM01 is an orally administered T-cell vaccine based on Vaximm's proprietary T-KINES® platform. The vaccine uses an attenuated Salmonella typhi bacterial vector engineered to express VEGFR-2 (vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2), a protein highly expressed on tumor blood vessels.

Upon oral administration, the attenuated bacteria are taken up by gut-associated lymphoid tissue, where they trigger a potent CD8+ cytotoxic T-cell response against VEGFR-2. These tumor-specific T cells then circulate systemically and attack VEGFR-2-expressing endothelial cells in the tumor vasculature, effectively destroying the tumor's blood supply from within.

VXM01 Clinical Profile Details
Platform T-KINES® oral vaccine technology
Format Attenuated Salmonella typhi vector
Target VEGFR-2 (tumor vasculature)
Mechanism CD8+ T-cell-mediated anti-angiogenesis
Development Stage Phase 2
Lead Indication Glioblastoma multiforme
Differentiation Oral administration, active immunization

Unlike conventional anti-VEGF therapies like Avastin (bevacizumab) that neutralize circulating VEGF protein, VXM01 generates a durable T-cell memory response that may provide long-lasting anti-angiogenic effects. Phase 2 studies in glioblastoma have shown evidence of T-cell infiltration into tumors and preliminary signals of clinical activity.

Royalty Transactions

Royalty Pharma / Teva — $500 Million TEV-408 Development Funding

On January 11—the eve of the J.P. Morgan conference—Royalty Pharma (NASDAQ: RPRX) and Teva Pharmaceutical Industries (NYSE: TEVA) announced a development funding agreement for TEV-408, an anti-IL-15 monoclonal antibody targeting vitiligo.

The deal provides Teva with up to $500 million in non-dilutive funding: $75 million immediately to co-fund a Phase 2b trial, plus an option for an additional $425 million to support Phase 3 development contingent on positive Phase 2b results. In return, Royalty Pharma will receive a milestone payment upon regulatory approval and tiered royalties on worldwide net sales.

Deal Component Value
Immediate Funding $75 million
Phase 3 Option $425 million (contingent on Phase 2b success)
Total Potential Funding $500 million
Royalty Pharma Returns Approval milestone + tiered royalties
Asset TEV-408 (anti-IL-15 mAb)
Indication Vitiligo
Regulatory Status FDA Fast Track designation (May 2025)

This marks Royalty Pharma's second collaboration with Teva, following a 2023 agreement involving olanzapine LAI. The deal is notable for its early-stage nature—Royalty Pharma typically focuses on later-stage or approved assets with more established risk profiles.

About TEV-408 and Vitiligo — The Science

Vitiligo is an autoimmune condition affecting 0.5–2% of the global population, causing depigmented patches of skin due to destruction of melanocytes by autoreactive CD8+ T cells. The condition carries significant psychological burden, and until recently, no systemic treatments were approved.

The only FDA-approved therapy is Opzelura (ruxolitinib cream), a topical JAK inhibitor approved in 2022. However, topical therapy has limitations for patients with extensive disease involvement, creating substantial unmet need for systemic options.

TEV-408 targets interleukin-15 (IL-15), a cytokine critical for the survival, proliferation, and activation of CD8+ T cells—including the tissue-resident memory T cells that mediate melanocyte destruction in vitiligo. By neutralizing IL-15, TEV-408 aims to deplete these pathogenic T cells while preserving broader immune function.

TEV-408 Clinical Profile Details
Format Fully human IgG1 monoclonal antibody
Target Interleukin-15 (IL-15)
Mechanism Depletes autoreactive CD8+ T cells
Development Stage Phase 1b/2a completed
Lead Indication Vitiligo
Secondary Indication Celiac disease (exploratory)
Regulatory FDA Fast Track designation
Differentiation Potential first systemic therapy for vitiligo

The Phase 2b trial will evaluate TEV-408 in patients with moderate-to-severe vitiligo, with primary endpoints focused on facial repigmentation using standardized assessment scales. If successful, TEV-408 could become the first systemic therapy approved for vitiligo.

Deal Structure Analysis

This transaction exemplifies the "synthetic royalty" model that Royalty Pharma has increasingly deployed for earlier-stage assets. Rather than acquiring royalty streams on approved drugs (the company's traditional focus), Royalty Pharma shares development risk in exchange for future royalty economics.

The staged funding structure—$75 million now, $425 million contingent—manages downside exposure while capturing substantial optionality on a potentially first-in-class mechanism. For Teva, the deal provides non-dilutive capital to advance an innovative asset without burdening its balance sheet, which remains focused on debt reduction following years of restructuring.

Strategic Partnerships

NVIDIA / Eli Lilly — $1 Billion AI Co-Innovation Lab

The most closely watched partnership announcement came on January 12 when NVIDIA and Eli Lilly unveiled plans for a joint AI co-innovation lab with combined investment of up to $1 billion over five years.

CEOs Jensen Huang and David Ricks jointly announced the partnership at a fireside chat during the conference, describing it as an effort to "reinvent drug discovery in the age of AI."

Partnership Element Details
Partners NVIDIA Corporation, Eli Lilly and Company
Investment Up to $1 billion (5 years, combined)
Location San Francisco Bay Area
Opening End of March 2026
Technology Platform NVIDIA BioNeMo, Vera Rubin architecture
Focus Areas Drug discovery, clinical development, manufacturing

The lab will leverage NVIDIA's BioNeMo platform—a suite of AI frameworks optimized for biomolecular applications—running on the company's latest Vera Rubin GPU architecture. Applications span the drug discovery pipeline:

  • Target identification: Using large language models trained on biomedical literature and multi-omics data to identify novel drug targets
  • Molecular design: Generative AI to design small molecules and biologics with optimized properties
  • Clinical trial optimization: Predictive models for patient stratification and trial design
  • Manufacturing: AI-guided process development and quality control

The partnership represents the largest disclosed AI-pharma infrastructure investment to date, signaling a shift from arm's-length AI collaborations to deeply integrated capabilities. For Lilly—already among the world's most valuable pharmaceutical companies following the success of Mounjaro (tirzepatide) and Zepbound—the investment reflects a belief that AI will fundamentally reshape drug development economics.

Venture Capital & Private Financings

Investor appetite for biotech remained robust during the week, with multiple significant venture rounds closing. While several large financings were announced in the days immediately preceding JPM (January 7–10), at least five major rounds were confirmed during the January 11–17 window.

Rounds Announced January 11–17, 2026

Company Round Amount Lead Investors Therapeutic Focus
Proxima (fka VantAI) Seed $80 million DCVC, NVentures (NVIDIA), Braidwell AI proximity therapeutics
Vibrant Therapeutics Undisclosed $61 million Pfizer Ventures, Apricot Capital Masked T-cell engager (oncology)
Cytotheryx Series A $60 million Ouroboros Family Founders Fund Liver regeneration therapy
Caldera Therapeutics Series A-1 Undisclosed Omega Funds IL-23/TL1A bispecific (IBD)
Mirador Therapeutics Series B $250 million T. Rowe Price, Fidelity, Adage Inflammatory bowel disease

Proxima (formerly VantAI) raised an $80 million seed round led by DCVC with participation from NVIDIA's NVentures, Braidwell, Roivant Sciences, AIX Ventures, and Alexandria Venture Investments. The company develops AI-driven "proximity therapeutics"—drugs that work by inducing or disrupting protein-protein interactions, including molecular glues and heterobifunctional degraders.

Vibrant Therapeutics secured $61 million from a syndicate led by Pfizer Ventures and Apricot Capital, with participation from Bayland Capital, Northern Light Venture Capital, HSG Ventures, and First Principle VC. The cross-border financing will advance VIB305, a masked T-cell engager targeting EGFR-positive solid tumors, into Phase 1 trials in Australia and China.

Cytotheryx, a Minnesota-based preclinical company developing bioartificial liver support therapies, closed a $60 million Series A from Ouroboros Family Founders Fund I, LP as sole investor. The proceeds will advance the company's liver regeneration platform toward clinical development.

Notable Pre-JPM Rounds (January 7–10, 2026)

Several large venture rounds announced immediately before the conference were frequently discussed during JPM week:

Company Round Amount Lead Investors Therapeutic Focus
Parabilis Medicines Series F $305 million RA Capital, Fidelity, Janus Henderson Beta-catenin inhibitor (oncology)
AirNexis Therapeutics Series A $200 million Frazier Life Sciences Dual PDE3/4 inhibitor (COPD)
Alveus Therapeutics Series A $160 million New Rhein Healthcare, Andera Partners, Omega Funds GLP-1/GIPR (obesity)
SonoThera Series B $125 million Not disclosed Ultrasound-mediated gene delivery
Kinaset Therapeutics Series B $103 million RA Capital, Forge Life Science Inhaled JAK inhibitor (asthma)

Parabilis Medicines (formerly FogPharma) raised a $305 million oversubscribed Series F—the week's largest venture round—to advance zolucatetide (FOG-001), a first-in-class beta-catenin inhibitor. The Helicon platform-derived miniprotein is in Phase 2 for desmoid tumors, with expansion studies planned in colorectal cancer and hepatocellular carcinoma. Over 20 investors participated, including RA Capital, Fidelity, Janus Henderson, ARCH Venture Partners, GV, T. Rowe Price, General Catalyst, and Casdin Capital.

Public Offerings

The biotech IPO market showed signs of recovery, with Aktis Oncology delivering the sector's largest U.S. offering since early 2024.

Aktis Oncology IPO — $365 Million

Aktis Oncology (NASDAQ: AKTS) completed an upsized initial public offering on January 13, raising $365.4 million including full exercise of underwriters' options—the largest biotech IPO since early 2024.

IPO Element Details
Issuer Aktis Oncology, Inc.
Exchange NASDAQ Global Select Market
Ticker AKTS
Pricing Date January 8, 2026
First Trading Date January 9, 2026
Closing Date January 13, 2026
Price $18.00 per share (top of $16–18 range)
Shares Offered 20.3 million (including greenshoe)
Gross Proceeds $365.4 million

Underwriter Syndicate:

  • Joint Lead Bookrunners: J.P. Morgan (lead left), BofA Securities, Leerink Partners, TD Cowen
  • Co-Managers: Stifel, Wedbush Securities

Legal Advisors:

  • Company Counsel: Goodwin Procter LLP
  • Underwriters' Counsel: Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP (Partners Deanna L. Kirkpatrick, Yasin Keshvargar)

The offering was anchored by a $100 million investment from Eli Lilly—approximately one-third of the total raise—providing powerful validation for the company's radiopharmaceutical platform. Additional cornerstone commitments came from EcoR1 Capital (~$40 million) and Vida Ventures (~$15 million). Pre-IPO investors include MPM BioImpact, RA Capital, and Vida Ventures.

About Aktis Oncology — The Science

Aktis is developing actinium-225-based radioligand therapies targeting solid tumors. The company's lead candidate, AKY-1189, targets Nectin-4—the same antigen targeted by Padcev (enfortumab vedotin), Pfizer/Astellas's blockbuster antibody-drug conjugate for urothelial carcinoma.

Unlike Padcev, which delivers a cytotoxic payload via antibody internalization, AKY-1189 delivers alpha-particle radiation directly to Nectin-4-expressing tumor cells. Alpha particles cause dense ionization tracks that induce irreparable DNA double-strand breaks, potentially overcoming resistance mechanisms that limit ADC efficacy.

AKY-1189 Profile Details
Format Actinium-225 radioligand therapy
Target Nectin-4
Indication Metastatic urothelial carcinoma
Development Stage Phase 1
Data Timeline Initial results Q1 2027
Differentiation Alpha-particle radiation vs. ADC payload

The IPO proceeds will fund clinical development of AKY-1189 and expansion of Aktis's pipeline into additional solid tumor targets.

BriaCell Therapeutics — $30 Million Follow-On

BriaCell Therapeutics (NASDAQ: BCTX) closed a $30 million public offering on January 15, consisting of units priced at $5.59 each (one common share plus one warrant).

Offering Element Details
Issuer BriaCell Therapeutics Corp.
Type Best-efforts public offering
Gross Proceeds $30 million
Unit Price $5.59 (1 share + 1 warrant)
Warrants Listed on NASDAQ (BCTXL); $6.93 exercise price; 5-year term
Placement Agent ThinkEquity LLC
Closing Date January 15, 2026

BriaCell is developing personalized immunotherapies for breast cancer and other solid tumors. Proceeds will fund ongoing clinical trials and general corporate purposes.

Foghorn Therapeutics — $50 Million Registered Direct at 30% Premium

Foghorn Therapeutics (NASDAQ: FHTX) closed a $50 million registered direct offering on January 13 at a 30% premium to market—a notable show of investor confidence.

Offering Element Details
Issuer Foghorn Therapeutics Inc.
Type Registered direct offering
Gross Proceeds $50 million
Premium 30% to January 9 closing price
Placement Agent None (direct)
Legal Counsel Ropes & Gray LLP
Closing Date January 13, 2026

Investors included BVF Partners, Deerfield Management, and founding investor Flagship Pioneering. Foghorn is developing therapies targeting the chromatin regulatory system—the cellular machinery that controls gene expression—with lead programs in oncology.

SPAC Transactions

SL Bio / Horizon Space Acquisition II — $5.7 Billion De-SPAC

SL Bio Ltd. and Horizon Space Acquisition II Corp. (NASDAQ: HSPT) announced on January 14 that the SEC declared their business combination registration statement effective, setting the stage for a shareholder vote.

SPAC Element Details
Target SL Bio Ltd. (Taiwan)
SPAC Horizon Space Acquisition II Corp.
Implied Equity Value ~$5.7 billion
SEC Effective Date January 13, 2026
Shareholder Vote February 3, 2026
Redemption Deadline January 30, 2026
Expected Close By February 18, 2026
Post-Merger Ticker SLBT (NASDAQ)

SL Bio develops cellular and gene therapies including Armed-T® (armed autologous T cells), gamma delta T-cell therapies for hematologic malignancies, and bovine-derived milk exosomes for regenerative medicine applications.

The $5.7 billion implied valuation has drawn scrutiny given SL Bio's early clinical stage. PIPE participation and earnout provisions, which could significantly affect actual proceeds and valuation, were not fully disclosed.

Bankruptcies & Restructurings

The deal activity at JPM stood in stark contrast to ongoing distress in the venture-backed biotech sector, with multiple wind-downs and layoffs announced during the week.

Lyra Therapeutics — Wind-Down

Lyra Therapeutics (NASDAQ: LYRA) announced on January 12 that it is ceasing operations and laying off all 28 remaining employees, despite having generated positive Phase 3 data for its lead asset.

Restructuring Element Details
Company Lyra Therapeutics, Inc.
Announcement Date January 12, 2026
Employees Affected 28 (100% of workforce)
Cash Position $22.1 million
Runway Into Q3 2026
Strategic Advisor SSG Capital Advisors
Stock Reaction -39% premarket

The company's lead program, LYR-210, is a biodegradable sinonasal implant delivering mometasone furoate for chronic rhinosinusitis. The Phase 3 ENLIGHTEN 2 trial met its primary endpoint in June 2025, demonstrating statistically significant improvement in nasal congestion and sinus symptoms versus placebo.

Despite the positive data, Lyra was unable to secure the capital required for regulatory filing and commercialization. The company cited "insufficient resources" in its announcement and engaged SSG Capital Advisors to explore strategic alternatives, including potential asset sales.

The Lyra wind-down illustrates a harsh reality of the current biotech environment: even clinical success does not guarantee company survival without adequate financing runway.

Sonoma Biotherapeutics — Layoffs

Sonoma Biotherapeutics, co-founded by 2025 Nobel laureate Fred Ramsdell, announced "right-sizing" layoffs on January 13 affecting employees across all levels and functions.

Restructuring Element Details
Company Sonoma Biotherapeutics, Inc.
Announcement Date January 13, 2026
Employees Affected Undisclosed (across all functions)
Locations South San Francisco, Seattle, remote
New CEO Stephen Dilly, MBBS, PhD
Priority Program Phase 1 REGULATE-RA (SBT-77-7101)

Sonoma is developing regulatory T cell (Treg) therapies for autoimmune diseases. The company's co-founder, Dr. Ramsdell, received the 2025 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for his foundational work on Treg biology.

Despite the scientific pedigree, Sonoma has struggled to raise capital in a challenging environment. The restructuring will focus resources on the company's lead program, SBT-77-7101, an autologous Treg therapy in Phase 1 for rheumatoid arthritis.

Vedanta Biosciences — Restructuring

Vedanta Biosciences announced significant workforce reductions on January 16, with reports suggesting approximately 50% of employees were laid off and an additional 45% furloughed.

Restructuring Element Details
Company Vedanta Biosciences, Inc.
Announcement Date January 16, 2026
Employees Affected ~50% laid off, ~45% furloughed
Priority Program VE303 Phase 3 (recurrent C. difficile)

Vedanta is developing defined bacterial consortia as live biotherapeutics. The restructuring will prioritize the company's Phase 3 RESTORATiVE303 trial evaluating VE303 for prevention of recurrent Clostridioides difficile infection.

Market Analysis & Outlook

Key Themes from JPM26

China-to-West Licensing Dominance: Four of the five largest transactions announced during the week involved Chinese biotech partners. Western pharma companies paid combined upfronts exceeding $900 million for assets originated in China, reflecting both the maturation of the Chinese biotech ecosystem and Western companies' willingness to access innovation regardless of geography.

Licensing Over M&A: Despite persistent speculation about mega-deals targeting companies like Revolution Medicines and Arcus Biosciences, no transformational acquisitions materialized. Big Pharma appears to favor risk-managed licensing structures that provide pipeline optionality without the integration challenges and regulatory scrutiny of full acquisitions.

AI Integration Accelerates: The NVIDIA-Lilly $1 billion co-innovation lab and AstraZeneca's Modella AI acquisition signal a shift from arm's-length AI partnerships to deeply integrated capabilities. AI is moving from "nice to have" to core infrastructure for drug discovery.

Oncology Assets Dominate: Bispecific antibodies (RC148), antibody-drug conjugates, and radioligand therapies accounted for the majority of disclosed deal value, reflecting continued investor enthusiasm for novel oncology modalities.

IPO Window Opens: Aktis Oncology's $365 million offering—anchored by Eli Lilly's $100 million commitment—demonstrated that pharma validation can unlock public market access for high-conviction assets. Industry analysts predict up to 20 biotech IPOs may price in 2026.

Advisor Landscape

Davis Polk & Wardwell emerged as the dominant legal advisor, representing underwriters in the Aktis Oncology IPO and serving as issuer counsel for Insilico Medicine's Hong Kong listing. Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer captured the week's largest licensing transaction (AbbVie/RemeGen), while Ropes & Gray advised on the Foghorn registered direct.

On the banking side, J.P. Morgan and BofA Securities led the Aktis IPO, while Morgan Stanley and CICC served as joint sponsors for Insilico Medicine's Hong Kong debut.

Complete Transaction Summary

Licensing & Collaboration Deals

Partners Date Upfront Milestones Total Value Royalties Territory
AbbVie / RemeGen Jan 12 $650M $4.95B $5.6B Double-digit tiered Ex-Greater China
Novartis / SciNeuro Jan 12 $165M $1.5B $1.7B Tiered Worldwide
Vaximm / BCM Europe Jan 12 $30M $815M $845M Royalty-sharing Worldwide
Royalty Pharma / Teva Jan 11 $75M $425M option $500M Tiered Worldwide
Nuvation / Eisai Jan 12 €50M €145M €195M Low-to-high teens Ex-US/China/Japan
Novartis / Zonsen PepLib Jan 12–13 $50M Undisclosed TBD Tiered Worldwide

M&A Transactions

Acquirer Target Date Value Structure
AstraZeneca Modella AI Jan 13 Undisclosed Full acquisition
AbbVie West Pharma facility Jan 12 ~$175M Asset purchase

Public Offerings

Company Type Date Proceeds Price Lead Underwriters
Aktis Oncology IPO Jan 13 $365M $18.00 J.P. Morgan, BofA, Leerink, TD Cowen
Foghorn Registered Direct Jan 13 $50M 30% premium None
BriaCell Follow-on Jan 15 $30M $5.59/unit ThinkEquity

Venture Capital (January 11–17)

Company Round Amount Lead Investors
Proxima Seed $80M DCVC, NVentures
Vibrant $61M Pfizer Ventures, Apricot
Cytotheryx Series A $60M Ouroboros Family Founders
This report is published by p05.org for informational purposes only. The author is not a lawyer or financial advisor. Nothing in this report constitutes investment advice, legal advice, or a recommendation to buy or sell any security. Data sourced from company press releases, SEC filings, and verified news reports.