In a deal worth $950m, GSK has agreed to acquire 35Pharma, a private, clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company based in Canada that specialises in the development of novel protein-based therapeutics.
The acquisition includes HS235, a potential best-in-class investigational medicine for pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) and pulmonary hypertension due to heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (PH-HFpEF).
HS235 has completed phase 1 healthy volunteer clinical trials, with studies due to start in PAH and PH-HFpEF.
PH is a progressive, life-shortening disease marked by high blood pressure in the lungs. Early symptoms are breathlessness, fatigue and chest pain leading to heart failure as the disease progresses.
It affects approximately 82 million people worldwide across multiple disease forms, yet treatment options remain limited and the five‑year survival rate is only around 50%.
By 2032, the global market for PH therapies is forecast to reach $18bn.
Tony Wood, Chief Scientific Officer at GSK, said: “Pulmonary hypertension affects millions of people worldwide, yet patients are underserved. We’re delighted to add HS235 to our pipeline, a potential best-in-class medicine with a differentiated profile to reduce risk of bleeding and provide potential metabolic benefits clinically relevant to PH patients.
“HS235’s potential protective effects on vascular function, alongside potential benefits on fat-derived markers of metabolism and inflammation, also offer new development opportunities within our RI&I portfolio to achieve broader coverage across the metabolic, inflammatory, vascular and fibrotic drivers of multiple chronic diseases that affect the lung, liver and kidney.”
Ilia Tikhomirov, CEO at 35Pharma, said: “In recent years, we witnessed a revolution in our understanding of pulmonary hypertension and how this life-threatening disease could be reversed.
“We are pleased to be joining forces with GSK, a leader in respiratory and inflammatory drivers of disease, who shares our vision of HS235’s potential to transform the treatment of this debilitating condition.”