Cardiometabolic Innovator Verdiva Bio Launches with $410M+ Series A to Advance Therapies
Verdiva Bio Limited (“Verdiva”), a new clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company, announced its official launch today, aiming to innovate therapies for obesity and other cardiometabolic disorders. The company has raised over $411 million in an oversubscribed Series A financing round, co-led by Forbion and General Atlantic, with additional investments from RA Capital Management, OrbiMed, Logos Capital, Lilly Asia Ventures, and LYFE Capital. This substantial funding will allow Verdiva to accelerate its mission to develop next-generation therapies for weight loss and metabolic health.
The company’s leadership team is headed by Khurem Farooq, who previously served as the CEO of Aiolos Bio and Gyroscope Therapeutics. Farooq brings extensive experience in drug development and biotech company growth. He commented, “People living with obesity and its complications deserve better treatment options, including more accessible oral therapies with improved efficacy and tolerability. Verdiva was created to meet these needs and drive the development of differentiated therapies.”
Verdiva’s lead candidate is a potential first-in-class, once-weekly oral treatment for obesity and weight loss maintenance, which Farooq believes could significantly enhance patient access and affordability. This program could mark a major shift in how obesity and related conditions are managed, improving the overall treatment journey for millions of patients.
Expanding the Cardiometabolic Pipeline
In 2024, Verdiva acquired the global development and commercialization rights (outside of greater China and South Korea) to an advanced portfolio from Sciwind Biosciences. The pipeline includes a range of oral and injectable treatments, designed to offer unique solutions for obesity and other cardiometabolic conditions. Key programs in the portfolio include:
- A Phase 2-ready, oral GLP-1 receptor agonist – This next-generation treatment, which is potential first-in-class, is designed for once-weekly administration.
- A potential first-in-class oral amylin agonist – This drug could be used alone or combined with an oral GLP-1 agonist, marking a new treatment option in the obesity and metabolic space.
- A long-acting, subcutaneous amylin agonist – Intended for use either alone or alongside a proprietary GLP-1 peptide, this therapy offers another potential breakthrough for weight management and metabolic health.
Verdiva’s goal is to advance these programs using both monotherapy and combination therapy approaches to address the diverse needs of patients living with obesity and related conditions. The company aims to improve patient adherence to treatments and promote healthier, more sustainable weight loss.
Strong Leadership Team and Expertise
Verdiva’s senior leadership team is composed of industry veterans with deep experience in clinical development, biotechnology, and drug commercialization. Dr. Mohamed Eid, a former senior executive at Boehringer Ingelheim and Novo Nordisk, has joined Verdiva as Chief Medical Officer. Dr. Eid expressed his excitement about the company’s innovative approach: “Our investigational medicines have the potential to provide more sustainable solutions for maintaining weight loss. By applying clinically validated, oral delivery technologies, we can offer therapies at lower doses while maintaining efficacy and improving tolerability.”
In addition to Dr. Eid, the company has appointed other key executives, including:
- Dr. Jane Hughes as Chief Scientific Officer, previously CSO at Aiolos Bio and Gyroscope Therapeutics.
- Dr. Tapan Maniar as Chief Business Officer, formerly CBO at Aiolos Bio and a Principal at Bain Capital Life Sciences.
- Ashley Taylor as Chief Technology Officer, formerly CTO at Aiolos Bio and Head of Network Strategy at Roche/Genentech.
The company’s leadership was further strengthened with the appointment of Mark Pruzanski, former CEO of Versanis Bio (acquired by Eli Lilly), as Chairman of the Board.
Series A Financing Supports Rapid Growth
The $411 million Series A financing round is a major milestone for Verdiva, with funds earmarked for advancing the clinical development of its portfolio and expanding its cardiometabolic pipeline. Wouter Joustra, General Partner at Forbion, and Brett Zbar, Managing Director at General Atlantic, both expressed confidence in the company’s future. Joustra noted, “With a proven leadership team and a pipeline of promising therapies, we believe Verdiva is well-positioned to deliver groundbreaking innovations and make a real difference in the treatment of cardiometabolic disorders.”
About Verdiva Bio
Verdiva Bio is committed to transforming the treatment of obesity, cardiometabolic disorders, and related complications. Its most advanced product, VRB-101, is an oral GLP-1 peptide currently in clinical development, with promising efficacy results from a Phase 1 study. The company is also developing a range of amylin-based therapies and other innovative programs aimed at providing better efficacy, tolerability, and sustainable weight loss solutions. Verdiva plans to leverage emerging scientific discoveries in gut-brain biology and their proven drug development track record to create novel therapies that can significantly improve the lives of individuals affected by obesity and related conditions worldwide.
Through this launch, Verdiva Bio is poised to become a key player in the fight against obesity and cardiometabolic diseases, offering hope for millions of patients in need of more effective and accessible treatment options.
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