LONDON and CAMBRIDGE, Mass. - GSK plc (LSE/NYSE: LON:GSK) and Flagship Pioneering announced a new collaboration aimed at developing up to 10 potential new medicines and vaccines, with an initial investment of $150 million. This alliance leverages GSK's expertise in disease areas and development capabilities alongside Flagship's innovative bioplatform companies.
The collaboration will initially focus on identifying and accelerating promising scientific concepts in respiratory and immunology. Under the agreement, Flagship and its companies could receive up to $720 million in combined upfront, development, and commercial milestone payments, as well as royalties from GSK for each program developed through this partnership.
Chief Scientific Officer of GSK, Tony Wood, expressed enthusiasm for the joint venture, stating that the partnership is set to deliver innovation swiftly. Paul Biondi, General Partner at Flagship Pioneering, highlighted the shared commitment to creating breakthrough medicines for patients with significant unmet needs.
Flagship Pioneering is known for creating bioplatform companies with the potential to develop multiple products that impact human health and sustainability. Since its inception in 2000, Flagship has launched over 100 scientific ventures, including notable companies such as Moderna (NASDAQ: NASDAQ:MRNA) and Sana Biotechnology (NASDAQ: SANA).
Foghorn Therapeutics Inc., a biopharmaceutical company, has announced plans for a registered direct offering of shares and pre-funded warrants. This initiative is expected to raise approximately $110 million. The company will offer 12,743,039 shares of common stock at $5.51 each and pre-funded warrants to purchase up to 7,220,794 shares at $5.5099 per warrant.
The offering is anticipated to close around May 22, 2024, subject to customary closing conditions. Jefferies, TD Cowen, and Evercore ISI will manage the offering as joint book-running managers. The gross proceeds from the offering will be used to advance Foghorn's preclinical and clinical programs and for general corporate purposes.
InvestingPro Insights
In the context of the recent collaboration between GSK and Flagship Pioneering, it's insightful to consider the financial health and market performance of the companies within Flagship's portfolio. Foghorn Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ: FHTX), one of Flagship's ventures, presents a mixed financial picture that may interest investors.
According to InvestingPro data, Foghorn Therapeutics has a market capitalization of $374.02 million, indicating a relatively modest size within the biotech industry. Despite a notable revenue growth of 64.41% in the last twelve months as of Q1 2024, the company's gross profit margin stands at a concerning -210.47%, reflecting substantial costs relative to its revenue.
Investors may also take note of Foghorn's stock price performance, which has exhibited significant volatility. The company's price has seen an impressive uptick of 80.27% over the last six months, yet it remains down by 25.22% over the past year. This volatility is something that potential investors should consider, especially in the context of the biotechnology sector's inherent risks.
Two InvestingPro Tips highlight critical aspects of Foghorn's financial status: the company holds more cash than debt, which is a positive sign of liquidity, and liquid assets exceed short-term obligations, indicating a strong short-term financial position. However, analysts do not expect the company to be profitable this year, and they anticipate a sales decline in the current year.
For investors seeking a deeper dive into Foghorn Therapeutics' financials and market performance, additional InvestingPro Tips are available. Currently, there are 11 more tips listed on InvestingPro, which can be accessed at https://www.investing.com/pro/FHTX. To enhance your investment research, use the coupon code PRONEWS24 to get up to 10% off a yearly Pro and a yearly or biyearly Pro+ subscription.
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