Biogen Inc. has completed the acquisition of Human Immunology Biosciences (HI-Bio™), a privately-held clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on targeted therapies for patients with severe immune-mediated diseases (IMDs).

“We are very excited about the addition of felzartamab into our pipeline, further strengthening our presence in immunology with a promising late-stage therapeutic candidate being studied in multiple indications,” said Priya Singhal, M.D., M.P.H., Head of Development at Biogen. “With the transaction now complete, we will begin working together with our colleagues from HI-Bio on plans to advance felzartamab to phase 3 and ultimately deliver innovative treatments to patients with unmet needs across a range of rare diseases.”

“I’m looking forward to the important progress HI-Bio will make as part of Biogen, and the power of combining our talented HI-Bio team with Biogen’s global infrastructure to support the development of felzartamab and accelerate Biogen’s expanding immunology portfolio,” said Travis Murdoch, M.D., CEO of HI-Bio. “It’s clear from our engagement over many months – as we considered how HI-Bio programs could progress in the best possible way – that our teams share many of the same values, including being science-led and execution-focused, and a core mission to positively impact patients with severe diseases.”

Felzartamab demonstrated positive interim results from the Phase 2 IgA nephropathy (IgAN) study and from the completed Phase 2 antibody-mediated rejection (AMR) study. These data were presented at the recent European Renal Association Congress in Stockholm. The AMR study data were also published in the New England Journal of Medicine. Felzartamab has also demonstrated proof-of-concept in a Phase 2 study in primary membranous nephropathy (PMN) and there are plans to advance felzartamab to Phase 3 in AMR, IgAN, and PMN.