A roundup of news from the large and mid-sized bio/pharmaceutical companies featuring Roche, Boehringer Ingelheim and GSK. Highlights below.  

For the latest news roundup on small and Emerging Pharma companies, see Biotech Briefs. 

M&A News 
* Roche To Acquire PathAI in $1-Bn Deal
Partnering News 
* BI, Immunitas Therapeutics in $478-M Inflammatory Disease Drug Pact  
* GSK, SBP Group in Hepatitis B Drug Commercialization Pact  

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M&A News 

Roche To Acquire PathAI in $1-Bn Deal To Boost AI-Driven Diagnostics 
In a move to strengthen its diagnostics business, Roche has agreed to acquire PathAI, a US-based company focused in digital pathology and AI-enabled technology for pathology laboratories and the biopharma industry, in a deal worth up to $1 billion ($750 million upfront and $300 million in milestone payments).  

This acquisition builds on the partnership between Roche and PathAI, established in 2021 and scaled up in 2024, to include the development of AI-enabled companion diagnostic algorithms. Subject to the closing of the transaction, which is expected in the second half of the year, the acquired entity will become part of Roche’s Diagnostics Division. The acquisition adds to Roche’s digital pathology capabilities, which is focused on transforming manual workflows into fully automated, AI-driven processes and insights.  

Under the agreement, Roche will pay a purchase price of $750 million upfront and additional milestone payments of up to $300 million. The closing of the transaction is subject to customary closing conditions, including antitrust and regulatory approvals and is currently expected in the second half of the year. 

Source: Roche 

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Partnering News 

BI, Immunitas Therapeutics in $478-M Inflammatory Disease Drug Pact 
Boehringer Ingelheim (BI) and Immunitas Therapeutics, a Waltham, Massachusetts-based bio/pharmaceutical company, have entered a global licensing agreement for a preclinical antibody program being developed for chronic inflammatory and autoimmune diseases, in a deal worth up to $478 million. 

The program is designed to selectively target cells that play a central role in driving chronic inflammation, with the goal of achieving sustained disease control for patients who do not respond adequately to current therapies. 

Under the agreement, Boehringer Ingelheim will obtain worldwide rights to develop, manufacture and commercialize the antibody program. Immunitas Therapeutics will receive an upfront payment and is eligible to receive near-term and future development, regulatory, and commercial milestone payments totaling up to EUR 407.5 million ($478 million), in addition to tiered royalties on future sales. Further details of the agreement are not disclosed. 

Source: Boehringer Ingelheim 

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GSK, SBP Group in Hepatitis B Drug Commercialization Pact 
GSK has entered into an exclusive strategic collaboration with Sino Biopharmaceutical, through its subsidiary Chia Tai Tianqing Pharmaceutical Group (CTTQ), to accelerate the launch in mainland China of bepirovirsen, a drug for treating chronic hepatitis B, which is under priority regulatory review in China.  

Under the agreement, CTTQ will be responsible for importation, distribution, hospital access, and promotional and non-promotional activities for bepirovirsen in mainland China. GSK will remain the marketing authorization holder and retain responsibility for regulatory, quality, pharmacovigilance and global medical strategy. The agreement also grants GSK the ability to review certain early-stage pipeline assets of the SBP Group to evaluate the potential for collaboration opportunities outside China. 

Under the agreement, CTTQ will purchase bepirovirsen from GSK under agreed supply terms for an initial term of 5.5 years. The term may be extended thereafter by mutual agreement. GSK will book sales of bepirovirsen supplied to CTTQ through the collaboration.  

Source: GSK