Following an extended acquisition process that concluded in 2023, U.K.-based biotechnology company F-star Therapeutics has transitioned into an independent, privately owned entity. The antibody-centric firm is separating from invoX Pharma, a U.K. subsidiary of Sino Biopharmaceutical.
F-star expressed enthusiasm about this transition, emphasizing that the company is now wholly owned and managed by its existing leadership team. The organization plans to maintain its focus on its bispecific antibody platform, which is designed to facilitate the development of advanced therapeutic solutions. However, beyond these remarks, the company has not disclosed additional specifics regarding its strategic direction or operational plans.
The acquisition of F-star by invoX was finalized in March 2023 for a total cash consideration of $161 million. Initially proposed in mid-2022, the transaction faced delays due to a review by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS), which prolonged the process until the following year.
Efforts have been made to obtain a statement from invoX regarding the separation, but no comment has been provided at this time.
F-star has a history of mergers and acquisitions. In 2020, the company merged with Spring Bank Pharmaceuticals, a move that granted it its prior Nasdaq listing. Additionally, F-star has engaged in collaborative agreements with multiple pharmaceutical companies, including Takeda, Johnson & Johnson, and Merck KGaA.
Currently, F-star’s official website does not display details pertaining to its internal research pipeline. The implications of this omission remain unclear, and it is uncertain whether this is indicative of a strategic shift or a temporary reorganization of publicly available corporate information. As the company moves forward independently, its next steps in the biotech landscape remain to be seen.
