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6.17.25
Wilson Sonsini Advises Verve Therapeutics on IP Matters Related to Merger with Lilly
On June 17, 2025, Eli Lilly and Company and Verve Therapeutics, a Boston-based clinical-stage company developing genetic medicines for cardiovascular disease, announced a definitive agreement for Lilly to acquire Verve. Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati advised Verve Therapeutics on IP matters related to the transaction.
Client Highlights
9.05.24
Firm Advises eGenesis on Patent Matters Related to $191 Million Series D Financing
On September 4, 2024, eGenesis, a biotechnology company developing human-compatible engineered organs to address the global organ shortage, announced the close of a $191 million Series D financing. Proceeds will be used to advance the company’s lead product candidate, EGEN-2784, to a first-in-human study for kidney xenotransplant. The funding will also be used to advance pipeline programs as well as scale production. Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati advises eGenesis on all patent matters and advised the company on patent matters related to this Series D transaction.
Client Highlights
6.10.24
Firm Advises Marengo Therapeutics on Expansion of Research Partnership with Ipsen
On June 7, 2024, global biopharmaceutical company Ipsen and clinical-stage biotech company Marengo Therapeutics announced the expansion of their ongoing oncology research partnership to include TriSTAR, Marengo’s next-generation, precision T cell engager (TCE) technology. Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati advised Marengo Therapeutics on the transaction.
Traditional TCEs targeting “cold” tumors have limited efficacy due to poor T cell quality and exhaustion. Marengo’s proprietary first-in-class TriSTAR TCEs have the potential to overcome these limitations, redirecting a new and expanded pool of highly activated memory Vβ T cells to the tumor. The teams will focus on exploring potential in cold tumors, which typically fail to trigger a strong immune response when treated with TCEs.
Under the terms of the agreement, Ipsen will assume responsibility for all activities following development candidate nomination. Marengo will receive an upfront payment and potential payments up to a total of $1.2 billion if all milestones are met, in addition to tiered sales royalty payments.
The Wilson Sonsini team advising Marengo Therapeutics on the transaction included Mark Bellomy, Chris McAndrew, Lauren Wardle, and Angel Wang.
Traditional TCEs targeting “cold” tumors have limited efficacy due to poor T cell quality and exhaustion. Marengo’s proprietary first-in-class TriSTAR TCEs have the potential to overcome these limitations, redirecting a new and expanded pool of highly activated memory Vβ T cells to the tumor. The teams will focus on exploring potential in cold tumors, which typically fail to trigger a strong immune response when treated with TCEs.
Under the terms of the agreement, Ipsen will assume responsibility for all activities following development candidate nomination. Marengo will receive an upfront payment and potential payments up to a total of $1.2 billion if all milestones are met, in addition to tiered sales royalty payments.
The Wilson Sonsini team advising Marengo Therapeutics on the transaction included Mark Bellomy, Chris McAndrew, Lauren Wardle, and Angel Wang.
Client Highlights
6.16.23
Wilson Sonsini Advises Verve on IP Matters Related to Lilly Collaboration
On June 15, 2023, Verve Therapeutics, Inc. announced an exclusive research collaboration with Eli Lilly and Company focused on advancing Verve’s preclinical stage in vivo gene editing program targeting lipoprotein(a) (Lp(a)). Elevated Lp(a) is an established and genetically validated, independent risk factor for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD), ischemic stroke, thrombosis, and aortic stenosis. Under the terms of the collaboration, Verve will advance the research and development of the Lp(a) program through the completion of Phase 1 clinical development. Lilly will be responsible for subsequent development, manufacturing, and commercialization of the Lp(a) program. Under the terms of the agreement, Verve will receive $60 million consisting of an upfront payment and equity investment. Research program costs through Phase 1 clinical trials will be funded by Lilly. Verve is also eligible to receive up to $465 million in research, development, and commercial milestones, as well as tiered royalties on global net sales. In addition, following the completion of Phase 1 clinical trials, Verve has the right to opt-in to co-fund and share margins globally on the Lp(a) program (in lieu of receipt of milestones and royalties). The closing of the transaction is subject to customary closing conditions, including clearance under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act (HSR Act).
Client Highlights
3.02.23
Wilson Sonsini Advises Chroma Medicine on $135 Million Series B Financing
On March 1, 2023, genomic medicine company Chroma Medicine announced that it had completed a $135 million Series B financing, which was led by GV (Google Ventures). The financing included additional participation from new investors ARCH Venture Partners, DCVC Bio, Mubadala Capital, Sixth Street, and all of its existing investors, including Alexandria Venture Investments, Atlas Venture, Casdin Capital, Cormorant Asset Management, Janus Henderson Investors, Newpath Partners, Omega Funds, Osage University Partners, Sofinnova Partners, T Rowe Price, and Wellington Management. Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati represented Chroma Medicine on the transaction.
Client Highlights
8.11.22
Wilson Sonsini Advises Marengo Therapeutics on Patent Matters Related to Strategic Partnership with Ipsen
On August 1, 2022, Ipsen and Marengo Therapeutics announced a strategic partnership to advance two of Marengo’s preclinical STAR platform-generated candidates into the clinic. The collaboration will leverage Marengo’s proprietary R&D expertise of a novel mechanism of T cell activation with Ipsen’s global oncology footprint for clinical development and commercialization. Under the terms of the agreement, Ipsen will make an upfront payment of $45 million, together with potential payments up to a total of $1.592 billion if all milestones are met in addition to tiered sales royalty payments. Marengo will lead the preclinical development efforts and will expense related costs until the submission of an Investigational New Drug (IND) application to the U.S. FDA. Ipsen will assume responsibilities for clinical development and commercialization.
Client Highlights
7.13.22
Wilson Sonsini Advises NAPIGEN on $7.85 Million Seed Financing
On July 12, 2022, NAPIGEN, a company developing proprietary technology to edit mitochondrial and chloroplast genomes, announced the completion of $7.85 million seed funding round. Grantham Foundation and RA Capital Management led the financing with additional participation from Breakout Labs/Thiel Foundation, Thrive SVG Ventures, MARSBIO, and the United Mitochondrial Disease Foundation. Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati advised NAPIGEN on the transaction.
Client Highlights
6.24.22
Wilson Sonsini Advises CellPoint on Acquisition by Galapagos
On June 21, 2022, Galapagos, a fully integrated biotechnology company focused on discovering, developing, and commercializing innovative medicines, announced it has signed a definitive agreement for an all-cash acquisition of CellPoint for an upfront payment of €125 million, with additional milestone payments up to €100 million. CellPoint is dedicated to developing CAR-T therapies at the point-of-care, making these therapies more affordable and accessible to patients. Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati advised CellPoint on the transaction.
Client Highlights
12.09.21
Wilson Sonsini Advises Chroma on Patent, Technology Transactions Matters Related to $125 Million Financing and Launch
On November 17, 2021, Chroma Medicine, a new genomic medicine company pioneering epigenetic editing, launched with $125 million in financing. Atlas Venture and Newpath Partners seeded the company with participation from Sofinnova Partners. The Series A was led by Cormorant Asset Management with participation by Casdin Capital, Janus Henderson Investors, Omega Funds, funds and accounts advised by T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc., and Wellington Management, in addition to all seed investors. The financing will support continued development of the company's epigenetic editing platform and advancement of its pipeline of targeted therapeutics. Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati advised Chroma on patent and technology transactions matters related to the financing and launch.
Client Highlights
6.17.21
Firm Advises Verve Therapeutics on IP Matters Related to $266.7 Million IPO
On June 16, 2021, Verve Therapeutics, a biotech company pioneering a new approach to the care of cardiovascular disease with single-course gene editing medicines, announced the pricing of its initial public offering of 14,035,789 shares of its common stock at a price to the public of $19.00 per share. The gross proceeds to Verve from the offering, before deducting the underwriting discounts and commissions and offering expenses, are expected to be $266.7 million. All of the shares are being offered by Verve. In addition, Verve has granted the underwriters a 30-day option to purchase up to an additional 2,105,368 shares of its common stock at the initial public offering price less the underwriting discounts and commissions. The shares began trading on the Nasdaq Global Select Market on June 17, 2021, under the ticker symbol “VERV.” The offering is expected to close on June 21, 2021, subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions.
Client Highlights
1.08.21
Wilson Sonsini Advises Harpoon Therapeutics on IP Matters Related to $100 Million Public Offering
On January 6, 2021, Harpoon Therapeutics, Inc. announced the pricing of an underwritten public offering of 5,882,352 shares of its common stock at a price to the public of $17 per share. Harpoon Therapeutics expects the gross proceeds from the sale of the shares will be approximately $100 million, before deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and offering expenses payable by Harpoon Therapeutics. In addition, Harpoon Therapeutics has granted the underwriters in the offering a 30-day option to purchase up to 882,352 additional shares of common stock at the public offering price. The offering is expected to close on January 11, 2021, subject to customary closing conditions. Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati advised Harpoon Therapeutics on IP matters related to the transaction.