Press release
Royalty Pharma and Zenas BioPharma Enter Into Obexelimab Funding Agreement for Up to $300 Million
Initial $75 million to fund the potential U.S. commercial launch of obexelimab for the treatment of IgG4-Related DiseaseAdditional $150 million associated
About this update from Royalty Pharma Plc
[{"type":"text","content":"Initial $75 million to fund the potential U.S. commercial launch of obexelimab for the treatment of IgG4-Related DiseaseAdditional $150 million associated with the upcoming results of the obexelimab Phase 3 INDIGO trial and FDA approval for the treatment of IgG4-Related Disease NEW YORK and WALTHAM, Mass., Sept. 02, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Royalty Pharma plc (Nasdaq: RPRX) and Zenas BioPharma, Inc. (Nasdaq: ZBIO) today announced that Royalty Pharma will provide up to $300 million in funding in exchange for a royalty on sales of obexelimab. “We are delighted to partner with Zenas as they develop obexelimab in IgG4-RD and other autoimmune diseases,” said Pablo Legorreta, founder and CEO of Royalty Pharma. “There is clear unmet need in IgG4-RD where obexelimab, with its exciting novel B cell modulating mechanism of action, has demonstrated compelling proof-of-concept. IgG4-RD represents a potential blockbuster opportunity for obexelimab. This agreement builds on an already record year for Royalty Pharma in announced value of synthetic royalty transactions, reflecting the compelling advantages this funding paradigm offers to innovative biotech companies. We look forward to supporting the Zenas team as they advance their broad development program to bring this important new treatment to patients in need.” “We are very pleased to partner with Royalty Pharma as we rapidly advance our broad obexelimab program through late-stage development and into global commercialization. This transaction underscores our conviction in the potential of obexelimab as a franchise molecule and provides us with financial flexibility to rapidly advance our clinical programs and fund the commercial launch of obexelimab if approved for the treatment of IgG4-RD,” said Lonnie Moulder, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Zenas. “We are committed to bringing obexelimab to as many patients living with autoimmune diseases as possible and look forward to our upcoming key milestones, including the topline results from our pivotal Phase 3 trial in IgG4-RD expected around year-end, our Phase 2 trial in Relapsing Multiple Sclerosis expected early in the fourth quarter of this year and our Phase 2 trial in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus expected in mid-2026.” Obexelimab is an investigational bifunctional monoclonal antibody designed to inhibit B cell function by bindin...