Overview
- Vanqua will receive $70 million upfront and up to $990 million in potential milestones, plus tiered sales royalties.
- Biogen secured exclusive worldwide rights and will lead development, manufacturing, and commercialization.
- The oral candidate targets C5aR1 to modulate complement-driven, neutrophil-mediated inflammation and has shown supportive preclinical efficacy and tolerability.
- Vanqua characterizes VQ-201 as a CNS-penetrant, first-in-class antagonist with broadened indication potential but typical early-stage translational risk.
- Peer context includes Amgen’s FDA-approved Tavneos for ANCA-associated vasculitis, related safety concerns and trial setbacks in other diseases, and InflaRx programs in Phase 2, while analysts see value milestones years out and Biogen shares edged lower.