Biotech Briefs: BridgeBio, MeiraGTx, Kalohexis & More
The latest from small and Emerging Pharma companies featuring BridgeBio Pharma, MeiraGTx, Kalohexis, Biocytogen, and Whitehawk Therapeutics.
For news on the large and mid-sized bio/pharmaceutical companies, see Global Briefs.
* BridgeBio Pharma Raises Nearly $1 Bn for Genetic Medicines Program
* MeiraGTx Raises Up To $400 M for Gene-Therapy Candidates
* Kalohexis Plans IPOs To Support Obesity Drug as Potential GLP-1 Challenger
* Biocytogen, Whitehawk Therapeutics Partner for Biospecific ADCs
BridgeBio Pharma Raises Nearly $1 Bn for Genetic Medicines Programs
BridgeBio Pharma, a Palo Alto, California-based commercial-stage bio/pharmaceutical company focused on developing medicines for genetic conditions, has raised nearly $1 billion through agreements for newly issued convertible preferred equity in funds managed by two investment firms, Sixth Street and HealthCare Royalty, a business of KKR. Sixth Street funded $800 million as the lead investor and HealthCare Royalty $133.9 million.
The funding will be used to support BridgeBio’s Attruby (acoramidis), a cardiovascular drug for treating cardiomyopathy of wild-type or hereditary transthyretin-mediated amyloidosis, and three other potential US product launches over the next 12 months (as reported on July 1, 2026). Attruby was approved in November 2024 and had revenues of $362.4 million in 2025. The three key product candidates are: BBP-418 for treating limb-girdle muscular dystrophy, Type 2I/R9, a rare genetic disorder impairing muscle membrane stability; encaleret for treating autosomal dominant hypocalcemia Type 1, a rare genetic endocrine disorder causing low blood calcium levels; and infigratinib for treating achondroplasia, a genetic disorder resulting in dwarfism.
Source: BridgeBio
MeiraGTx Raises Up To $400 M for Gene-Therapy Candidates
MeiraGTx Holdings, a New York-based clinical-stage genetic medicines company, has entered into an agreement with Oberland Capital Management for an investment of up to $400 million in the company, including up to $375 million in non-dilutive capital for capped royalty payments on certain products and up to $25 million in equity.
The company has four late-stage clinical programs: a Phase III-ready program for treating Parkinson’s disease; a Phase III program for treating radiation-induced xerostomia (chronic dry mouth); a Phase III program for treating AIPL1-associated congenital blindness; and a program for treating X-linked retinitis pigmentosa, a severe form of inherited retinal degeneration which completed Phase III studies. In November 2025, MeiraGTx formed a $475-million deal ($75 million upfront and milestone payments of up to $400 million) with Eli Lilly and Company for its ophthalmology programs, including its AIPL1-associated congenital blindness program.
Source: MeiraGTx
Kalohexis Plans IPOs To Support Obesity Drug as Potential GLP-1 Challenger
Kalohexis, a Northbrook, Illinois-based clinical-stage bio/pharmaceutical company developing drugs for treating obesity and cancer cachexia (a disorder resulting in a loss of skeletal muscle mass and fat), reports that it plans to file an initial public offering (IPO).
Kalohexis was spun out in March (March 2026) from Endevica Bio, a privately held bio/pharmaceutical company developing synthetic peptidomimetics. Kalohexis’ lead programs include: 710GO, a general obesity treatment in Phase I development, positioned to potentially compete with glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists; and mifomelatide, in Phase II development, for preventimg and treating cachexia in advanced cancers. These peptide drugs focus on the melanocortin system, which regulates metabolic homeostasis.
The company submitted a confidential draft Registration Statement to the US Securities and Exchange Commission. The number of shares to be offered and the price range for the proposed IPO have not yet been determined. The IPO is expected to take place after the SEC completes its review process, subject to market and other conditions.
Source: Kalohexis
Biocytogen, Whitehawk Therapeutics Partner for Biospecific ADCs
Biocytogen, a Beijing-based bio/pharmaceutical company focused on gene-editing technology, and Whitehawk Therapeutics, a Morristown, New Jersey-based clinical-stage bio/pharmaceutical company focused on oncology, have announced a global collaboration to develop bispecific antibody-drug conjugates (BsADC). Biocytogen will provide access to up to five bispecific antibodies using its proprietary RenLite platform, and Whitehawk will evaluate these in combination with its ADC linker-payload platform technologies. Whitehawk then has the option to advance any resulting BsADC candidates as part of its pipeline.
Source: Biocytogen
