Biogen joins immunology wave with $1.15 billion acquisition

Biogen is joining the industry’s fervor over immune and inflammatory disease drug development with a new acquisition.

The Cambridge, Mass., drugmaker announced Wednesday that it will acquire Human Immunology Biosciences, or HI-Bio, for $1.15 billion and up to $650 million in additional payments if certain milestones are met.

HI-Bio, which is based in San Francisco, is developing therapies for immune-mediated diseases like primary membranous nephropathy and IgA nephropathy, both of which impact kidney function. The startup’s lead drug, felzartamab, is a monoclonal antibody that selectively depletes CD38+ and natural killer cells in the hopes of alleviating the disease’s effects. It has already completed Phase 2 studies.

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