VectivBio expands drug pipeline

VectivBio (Nasdaq: VECT) is a global, clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on discovering, developing, and commercialising innovative treatments for severe rare conditions. to expand its drug pipeline. The company has acquired Comet Therapeutics, a biotech that has been developing a small molecule platform to treat a large group of IMDs that occur in approximately 1 in 800 births.

The foundation of Comet’s proprietary technology is a stabilised Coenzyme A (CoA) precursor backbone that has been shown in preclinical studies to supply functional CoA and carry tailored intermediary metabolite cargos. The modular technology targets multiple groups of IMDs that share a common metabolic pathway, independent of underlying genetic mutation. These include severe life-threatening disorders such as methylmalonic acidemia (MMA) and propionic acidemia (PA).

In preclinical studies, this technology has demonstrated the ability to provide both CoA and intermediate metabolites to all relevant organ systems affected by IMDs, including the liver, muscle and brain, thus bearing the potential to overcome some of the delivery limitations of other therapeutic approaches currently in development.

Under the terms of the agreement, VectivBio will acquire Comet Therapeutics in exchange for equity and cash payable at closing, as well as additional equity or cash payments upon the achievement of certain specified future development milestones. The board of directors of both companies have unanimously approved the transaction.

“The acquisition of the CoMET platform is in line with our core mission of developing disease-modifying treatments for rare severe diseases,” said Luca Santarelli, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of VectivBio. “The platform’s potential to deliver a pipeline of medicines that target the fundamental molecular pathophysiology of IMDs by unlocking previously inaccessible pathways would provide us with the opportunity to transform the lives of these patients. We are eager to begin work on our new programs and look forward to progressing our first candidate towards the clinic.”

Four distinct programs are currently in research, with plans to enter the clinic with the first program in the next 18 months.

(Press release/RAN)