Clinical Trials Arena

Uniquity Bio launches with $300m and an MSD Phase II asset to boot

Uniquity is planning Phase II trials in COPD and asthma with TSLP-targeting drug solrikitug, which it licensed from MSD.

Private investment firm Blackstone Life Sciences has pulled back the covers on the latest pharma company to hit the immunology and inflammation arena.

Based in Pennsylvania, US, Uniquity Bio has launched with $300m in capital from Blackstone.

Uniquity Bio's most valuable asset is arguably a monoclonal antibody in-licensed from MSD, solrikitug. The drug targets thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) and has recently been cleared for use in clinical trials by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Uniquity said it will launch Phase II trials in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma.

The market size for COPD in the US was estimated to be about $18.6bn in 2023 while the size of the asthma market in the country was approximately $7.2bn in the same year, according to GlobalData’s Pharma Intelligence Centre.

GlobalData is the parent company of Clinical Trials Arena.

While the upcoming trials will focus on these two diseases, Uniquity suggested the antibody could have applications in a wide range of immunology and inflammation programmes.

Uniquity CEO Brian Lortie said solrikitug “has the potential to be a life-changing medication for a significant number of patients who currently have very limited treatment options”, and that the company is “excited to move into the next phase of development.”

Uniquity gave no further details on the timings of the upcoming Phase II trials. But Blackstone Life Sciences’ global head Nicholas Galakatos reckons that the advancement of solrikitug will accompany an expanding pipeline for startups.

Galakatos said: “We are proud to partner with Uniquity’s team of veteran industry leaders as they advance solrikitug and expand their immunology and inflammation pipeline with additional programs in the near future.”

Immunology and inflammation are two of the hot areas to be a part of in the current pharma landscape. In February, inflammatory disease specialist Aiolos Bio was acquired by GSK in a $1.4bn deal. Aiolos had launched not long before in October 2023 with $200m and a monoclonal antibody that also targeted TSLP.

Also in the space is Mirador Therapeutics which launched in late March 2024. Ushered in by the former head of MSD-bought Prometheus, the company secured $400m in Series A financing.