SAN DIEGO– Zura Bio Limited (Nasdaq: “ZURA”) (“Zura” or “Zura Bio”), a multi-asset clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on developing novel medicines for immune and inflammatory disorders, today announced the license from Eli Lilly and Company (“Lilly”) of tibulizumab, a potential first-in-class, anti-IL-17 and anti-BAFF dual antagonist. Following the closing, the compound will be known as ZB-106.
ZB-106 currently has clinical data from two Phase 1b studies completed in Rheumatoid Arthritis and Sjogren’s Syndrome. The safety profile to date appears to be acceptable, with no new findings relative to known IL-17 and BAFF inhibitors. Chronic toxicology studies have been completed with no adverse drug-related findings.
Zura plans to initiate a Phase 2 study for ZB-106 in Systemic Sclerosis in 2024 to be followed by a study in Hidradenitis Suppurativa.
Dr. Someit Sidhu, Chief Executive Officer and Director of Zura Bio stated, “We believe tibulizumab is a great complement to our existing multi-asset pipeline. This is the second asset Zura Bio has licensed from Lilly in less than one year. We value their continued partnership and global presence as a leader in the inflammatory disease space and are grateful for the work they have done to progress this asset to its current state. We are excited to advance ZB-106 with the potential to evolve research and impact patients across a number of inflammatory diseases.”
In connection with the closing of the licensing transaction for ZB-106, Zura has agreed to sell an aggregate of approximately 18.8 million Class A ordinary shares, and pre-funded warrants in lieu of Class A ordinary shares, to certain accredited institutional investors in a private placement financing (the “Offering”). The Offering is expected to result in gross proceeds to Zura of approximately $80 million cash, before deducting placement agent fees and other offering expenses payable by Zura. In addition, Lilly has agreed to receive up to an aggregate of approximately $4.25 million in Class A ordinary shares in lieu of a portion of the upfront cash to be paid by Zura as consideration for the licensing transaction for ZB-106.
The Offering was led by Deep Track Capital, Great Point Partners, Suvretta Capital, and a leading life sciences-focused investment fund, alongside several additional new and existing investors.
Pursuant to the terms of the subscription agreement, each Class A ordinary share will be sold at a price of $4.25 per share and each pre-funded warrant will be sold at a price of $4.249 per pre-funded warrant. Each pre-funded warrant will have an exercise price of $0.001 per Class A ordinary share. At the initial closing, investors have committed to purchase an aggregate of approximately 3.8 million Class A ordinary shares for a total of approximately $16 million in gross proceeds, excluding the shares issued to Lilly. At the second closing, expected in the second half of 2023, investors have committed to purchase an aggregate of approximately 15 million Class A ordinary shares and pre-funded warrants for an additional total of approximately $64 million in gross proceeds, subject to shareholder approval for authority to allot such shares and warrants. Upon the final closing of the Offering, Zura anticipates having $120 million in cash and cash equivalents, which it believes will be sufficient to fund its planned operating expenses and capital expenditure requirements through 2026.
Guggenheim Securities served as lead placement agent for the Offering. Raymond James also served as placement agent for the Offering.
The securities are being sold in a private placement and have not been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and may not be offered or sold in the U.S. absent registration or an applicable exemption from registration requirements. Zura has agreed to file resale registration statements with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), for purposes of registering the resale of the Class A ordinary shares and pre-funded warrants issued or issuable in connection with the Offering.
This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy the securities, nor shall there be any sale of the securities in any state in which such offer or sale would be unlawful prior to the registration or qualification under the securities laws of such state. Any offering of the shares under the resale registration statement will only be by means of a prospectus.
