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7.08.26
Wilson Sonsini Advises Crinetics on Patent Matters Related to $10 Billion Acquisition by Vertex
On July 6, 2026, Vertex Pharmaceuticals and Crinetics Pharmaceuticals, a global pharmaceutical company focused on the discovery, development, and commercialization of novel therapeutics for endocrine diseases, announced that the companies have entered into a definitive agreement under which Vertex will acquire Crinetics for $85.00 per share in cash, for a total equity value of approximately $10 billion, or approximately $8.8 billion net of estimated cash acquired. Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati is patent counsel to Crinetics and advised the company on patent matters related to the transaction.
Client Highlights
7.08.26
Wilson Sonsini Advises Insilico on Collaboration with Takeda
On July 1, 2026, Insilico Medicine (Insilico), a clinical-stage biotechnology company powered by generative artificial intelligence and automation, announced a strategic collaboration agreement with Takeda to use Insilico’s proprietary end-to-end platform, Pharma.AI, to advance drug candidates across various therapeutic areas, with a potential initial value of $600 million. Insilico will lead drug discovery, while Takeda will further development, including advancing candidates past clinical trials.
Alerts
6.26.26
FTC Conditions Aurobindo’s Acquisition of Lannett on Divestiture of Four Generic Drugs
On June 18, 2026, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced that it would allow Aurobindo Pharma Limited’s approximately $250 million acquisition of Lannett Company, Inc. to proceed, subject to a proposed consent order requiring Aurobindo to divest four overlapping generic pharmaceutical products to Quagen Pharmaceuticals, LLC. The Commission voted 2-0 to issue an administrative complaint and accept the consent agreement for a 30-day public comment period.
Client Highlights
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
6.22.26
Firm Advises Denali Therapeutics on Agreement to Sell Rare Pediatric Disease Priority Review Voucher for $195 Million
On June 18, 2026, Denali Therapeutics, a biotechnology company pioneering a new class of biotherapeutics designed to cross the blood-brain barrier using its proprietary TransportVehicle™ platform, announced it has entered into a definitive agreement to sell its Rare Pediatric Disease Priority Review Voucher (PRV) for gross proceeds of $195 million. Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati advised Denali on the transaction.
Client Highlights
6.18.26
Wilson Sonsini Advises Clair Health on $11.6 Million Seed Round
On June 17, 2026, San Francisco-based Clair Health, a wellness wearable start-up designed to monitor hormones, announced an $11.6 million seed round led by Khosla Ventures, with participation from a16z speedrun, Brydge Club, TreeHub, Cartan Capital, AGI House, Insiders VC, and Anne Wojcicki. Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati advised Clair Health on the transaction.
Client Highlights
6.17.26
Wilson Sonsini Advises Enliven Therapeutics on $460 Million Follow-On Offering
On June 15, 2026, Enliven Therapeutics, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery and development of small molecule therapeutics, closed an upsized underwritten public offering of 10,533,334 shares of its common stock, which includes the full exercise of the underwriters' option to purchase 1,600,000 additional shares of its common stock, at a price to the public of $37.50 per share and, in lieu of common stock to certain investors, pre-funded warrants to purchase 1,733,333 shares of its common stock at a price to the public of $37.499 per pre-funded warrant, which represents the per share public offering price of each share of Enliven Therapeutics' common stock less the $0.001 per share exercise price for each pre-funded warrant. All of the shares and pre-funded warrants were sold by Enliven Therapeutics. The gross proceeds from the offering were approximately $460 million before deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and other offering expenses.
Client Highlights
6.11.26
Wilson Sonsini Advises Beren Therapeutics P.B.C. on $300 Million Financing, Including Equity and Debt and Royalty Facilities
On June 10, 2026, Beren Therapeutics P.B.C., a leader in cholesterol trafficking biology and cyclodextrin-based therapeutics, announced it has secured $300 million in combined financing. The financing consists of:
Client Highlights
6.10.26
Wilson Sonsini Advises SonoThera on Patent Matters Related to Oversubscribed $125 Million Series B
On June 10, 2026, SonoThera, a biotechnology company developing next-generation genetic medicines to address the root causes of disease, announced the closing of an oversubscribed $125 million Series B financing round to advance its lead programs in Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) and autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) into the clinic and expand its pipeline of targeted, redosable genetic medicines. Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati advised SonoThera on patent matters related to the transaction.
News Articles
6.09.26
Nellie Brutocao and Ben Capps Named Among SDBJ's Under 40
On June 8, 2026, Wilson Sonsini partners Nellie Brutocao and Ben Capps were honored among San Diego Business Journal’s “40 Next Top Business Leaders Under 40.” The special supplement recognizes young professionals for their achievements and community involvement in the region.
Podcasts
6.08.26
NextGen VC Podcast – The $2.25 Billion Exit That Changed Lumira’s Investment Strategy: Suman Rao of Lumira Ventures
In the latest episode of the NextGen VC Podcast, Suman Rao, Ph.D., principal at Lumira Ventures, joins hosts and Wilson Sonsini partners Michael Hostetler and Jennifer Fang to discuss her path from academic science to healthcare venture capital and why she believes the best investors lead with mission before money.
Alerts
6.08.26
U.S. Supreme Court Addresses Liability for Patent Infringement by Generic Pharmaceuticals
In a unanimous opinion by Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, the U.S. Supreme Court held that Amarin, the developer of Vascepa® (reference listed drug), failed to plausibly allege that Hikma actively induced infringement of Amarin’s method of use patents based on Hikma’s statements and materials related to its generic version of Vascepa®, reversing the decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (Federal Circuit). Although much of the import of this decision will not be fully understood until lower courts interpret this ruling, the Supreme Court provided guidance regarding one of the requirements for alleging a claim for induced patent infringement—one must plausibly allege that the defendant actively encouraged infringing use, not merely whether others could plausibly read statements by the defendant as instructions to infringe.