Verdiva Bio Launches with $411M Funding to Revolutionize Obesity and Cardiometabolic Care

Verdiva Bio, a newly established clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company, has launched with an impressive $411 million in Series A financing. The funding round was co-led by Forbion and General Atlantic, with additional participation from RA Capital Management, OrbiMed, Logos Capital, Lilly Asia Ventures, and LYFE Capital.

The company is dedicated to developing innovative therapies targeting obesity, cardiometabolic disorders, and related complications. Its pipeline includes both oral and injectable treatments with the potential to be first-in-class or best-in-class. Notably, Verdiva's lead asset is a once-weekly oral GLP-1 peptide, VRB-101, which has demonstrated compelling efficacy potential in a Phase 1 study, confirming the viability of once-weekly dosing.

Khurem Farooq, formerly the CEO of Aiolos Bio and Gyroscope Therapeutics, will lead Verdiva Bio as Chief Executive Officer. He is joined by a team of experienced drug developers and biotech professionals, including Chief Scientific Officer Jane Hughes and Chief Medical Officer Dr. Mohamed Eid.

"People living with obesity and its complications deserve better options at each stage of their treatment journey," said Farooq. "We created Verdiva Bio to accelerate the development of differentiated medicines that address these significant unmet medical needs."

Verdiva Bio's proprietary oral delivery technology is designed to enable patient-friendly dosing, greater scalability, and broader patient access. The company's portfolio also includes multiple amylin molecules (oral and subcutaneous agonists) and other undisclosed programs aimed at enhancing efficacy, improving tolerability, and promoting healthier weight loss.

With this substantial financial backing and a robust pipeline, Verdiva Bio is poised to make significant strides in the treatment of obesity and cardiometabolic disorders, offering new hope to millions affected by these conditions worldwide.