GSK (LSE:GSK) has closed its acquisition of Canada-based 35Pharma Inc for $950 million, buying 100% of the private biotech and the clinical-stage candidate HS235.
The deal brings a molecule aimed at the activin receptor signalling pathway into GSK’s Respiratory, Immunology & Inflammation (RI&I) portfolio at a moment analysts forecast the global PH market to reach $18 billion by 2032, with activin signalling inhibitors expected to represent roughly half of that.
HS235 is engineered for enhanced selectivity to reduce binding to BMP9 and BMP10 — ligands linked with bleeding and telangiectasia — and is designed to lower risks such as bleeding, pericardial effusion and dose-limiting rises in haemoglobin. Early clinical data also showed potential metabolic benefits, including fat-selective weight loss, preservation of lean mass and improved insulin sensitivity.
"HS235 is an important addition to our RI&I pipeline, which continues to expand across inflammatory and fibrotic drivers underlying multiple chronic diseases. With approximately 82 million patients currently living with PH in its various forms, high burden of morbidity associated with the disease and poor associated prognosis, with low five‑year survival rates, we are committed to advancing this novel, differentiated option to expand the limited treatments currently available," said Kaivan Khavandi, SVP for R&D Head Respiratory, Immunology & Inflammation, and Head of Translational & Development Sciences.
Proof‑of‑concept trials are expected to start imminently in two PH forms: pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) and PH due to heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (PH‑HFpEF).
