GC Biopharma Acquires Catalyst Biosciences’ Rare Hematology Pipeline

Rare Daily Staff

Korean biotech GC Biopharma will acquire three Catalyst Biosciences programs related to rare bleeding disorders, including Catalyst’s lead candidate marzeptacog alfa, an engineered factor VIIa that is ready for phase 3 clinical stage development.

In its previous clinical development trials, marzeptacog alfa (MarzAA) demonstrated efficacy and safety as a treatment for rare bleeding disorders. More significantly, MarzAA, unlike the majority of existing therapeutics, is delivered by subcutaneous injection, making it more convenient to administer and less burdensome for the patients who require life-long treatment.

Under the terms of the asset purchase agreement, GC Biopharma will acquire marzeptacog alpha activated (MarzAA), dalcinonacog alpha (DalcA), and CB-2679d-GT for a total of $6 million, $1 million payable on signing and $5 million payable subject to satisfaction of post-closing indemnification obligations. Once received, the net proceeds from the transaction will be distributed to holders of the contingent value right issued to Catalyst stockholders of record on January 5, 2023.

GC Biopharma’s plan is to continue development of MarzAA in pursuit of launching a first-in-class novel drug that will pave the way for the company to make inroads into the global markets, including the United States and other advanced markets.

GC Biopharma (formerly known as Green Cross) already works to provide better therapeutic options for hemophilia, one of the most well-known rare bleeding disorders. Green Mono, a plasma derived FVIII drug, and GreenGene F, a recombinant FVIII drug, are hemophilia drugs exclusively developed by the company.

Photo: Nassim Usman, president and CEO of Catalyst Biosciences.