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6.24.26
Wilson Sonsini Advises Saturnus Bio on Strategic Collaboration with Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany
On June 23, 2026, Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, a leading global science and technology company, announced a strategic collaboration with Versant Ventures to launch Saturnus Bio, a next-generation precision cardiology company that utilizes targeted gene modulation to address rare mono-genetic cardiomyopathies with significant unmet need. Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati advised Saturnus Bio on the transaction.
The research-stage partnership entails a build-to-buy deal structure, including an upfront payment of $50 million from Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany to fund Saturnus Bio’s research activities, securing a minority equity stake in the company, as well as additional success-based preclinical milestones, supporting the development of novel drug candidates for genetic cardiomyopathy patients. Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany has exclusive rights to acquire Saturnus Bio for a pre-determined option payment, in addition to success-based earnouts.
The Wilson Sonsini team that advised Saturnus Bio on the transaction includes:
The research-stage partnership entails a build-to-buy deal structure, including an upfront payment of $50 million from Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany to fund Saturnus Bio’s research activities, securing a minority equity stake in the company, as well as additional success-based preclinical milestones, supporting the development of novel drug candidates for genetic cardiomyopathy patients. Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany has exclusive rights to acquire Saturnus Bio for a pre-determined option payment, in addition to success-based earnouts.
The Wilson Sonsini team that advised Saturnus Bio on the transaction includes:
Client Highlights
10.22.24
Wilson Sonsini Advises Novo Holdings and F-Prime Capital on AvenCell’s $112 Million Series B
On October 22, 2024, AvenCell Therapeutics, a leading clinical-stage cell therapy company focused on advancing both autologous and allogeneic switchable CAR-T cell therapies, announced that it has raised $112 million in Series B financing. The financing was led by global life sciences investor Novo Holdings. New investors F-Prime Capital, Eight Roads Ventures Japan, Piper Heartland Healthcare Capital, and NYBC Ventures also participated in the round alongside founding investor Blackstone Life Sciences. Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati advised Novo Holdings and F-Prime Capital on the transaction.
Client Highlights
7.28.20
Wilson Sonsini Advises TCR2 Therapeutics on IP Matters Related to $124 Million Public Offering
On July 28, 2020, TCR2 Therapeutics Inc., a clinical-stage immunotherapy company with a pipeline of novel T cell therapies for patients suffering from cancer, announced the pricing of an underwritten public offering of 8,000,000 shares of its common stock at a public offering price of $15.50 per share. TCR2 also granted the underwriters a 30-day option to purchase up to an additional 1,200,000 shares of common stock at the public offering price, less the underwriting discounts and commissions. The gross proceeds from the offering, before deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and offering expenses payable by the company, are expected to be $124 million, excluding any exercise of the underwriters’ option to purchase additional shares. All of the shares in the offering are to be sold by TCR2. The offering is expected to close on or about July 31, 2020, subject to customary closing conditions. TCR2 intends to use the net proceeds of the offering to advance its clinical and earlier stage programs and for research and development, working capital, and general corporate purposes.