Strength in numbers, United Therapeutics acquires Thymmune for up to $300M

United Therapeutics Corporation (UTHR) has acquired Thymmune Therapeutics, Inc., a privately held, preclinical-stage biotechnology company focused on thymic cell therapies, for $140 million in cash plus up to $160 million in potential earn-out payments tied to clinical and regulatory milestones to be achieved by the end of 2031.

Thymmune has developed a process for converting human-induced pluripotent stem cells into thymic cells intended to restore T-cell function. The thymus plays a role in training T-cells, which are involved in immune response.

Thymmune’s lead candidate, THY-100, is in preclinical development for congenital athymia, an ultra-rare condition in which infants are born without a functional thymus. Animal studies have shown that THY-100 can stimulate the formation of a neo-thymus capable of supporting T-cell development.

United Therapeutics CEO Martine Rothblatt, Ph.D., said in a statement that Thymmune’s platform complements the company’s existing UThymoKidney clinical development program and its work in immunomodulatory therapeutics.

Thymmune founder and CEO Stan Wang, M.D., Ph.D., said United Therapeutics’ position in organ alternatives and cell-based technologies made it the preferred partner to advance Thymmune’s platform.