Verdiva Bio Ltd. has launched as a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing innovative therapies for obesity and other cardiometabolic disorders. The company is advancing a portfolio of next-generation oral and injectable treatments with first-in-class or best-in-class potential. Verdiva launches with an Series A financing of $411million, co-led by Forbion and General Atlantic, with additional participation from RA Capital Management, OrbiMed, Logos Capital, Lilly Asia Ventures, and LYFE Capital.

Khurem Farooq, formerly the CEO of Aiolos Bio and Gyroscope Therapeutics, will serve as Chief Executive Officer leading an experienced team of drug developers and biotech company builders.

Verdiva acquired global development and commercialization rights outside of greater China and South Korea to their portfolio from Sciwind Biosciences in 2024. Verdiva plans to advance the development of these therapies via a mix of monotherapy and combination programs, including: a phase 2-ready, potential first-in-class, once-weekly oral GLP-1 receptor agonist; a potential first-in-class, once-weekly oral amylin agonist for use as monotherapy or in combination with an oral GLP-1 agonist; and a long-acting, subcutaneous amylin agonist for use as monotherapy or in combination with a proprietary GLP-1 peptide.

“People living with obesity and its complications deserve better options at each stage of their treatment journey, including oral therapies with less frequent dosing regimens, the potential for improved efficacy and tolerability, and innovative combination therapies in pursuit of healthier weight loss and, equally importantly, maintenance of metabolically healthy weight. We created Verdiva Bio to accelerate the development of differentiated medicines that address these significant unmet medical needs,” said Farooq.