Acelyrin
| Public | |
| Traded as | NASDAQ: SLRN |
| ISIN | 🆔 |
| Industry |
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| Founded 📆 | 2020 |
| Founder 👔 |
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| Headquarters 🏙️ | , , |
Area served 🗺️ | |
Key people |
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| Members | |
Number of employees | |
| 🌐 Website | acelyrin.com |
| 📇 Address | |
| 📞 telephone | |
Acelyrin, Inc. is a late-stage clinical biopharmaceutical company headquartered in Agoura Hills, California, with additional operations in the San Francisco Bay Area.[1]
Acelyrin focuses on accelerating the development and commercialization of medicine, primarily in the field of immunology.[2]
History
Acelyrin was co-founded in 2020 by Shao-Lee Lin, a physician-scientist with experience in drug development, and Bob Carey, a veteran in biopharma business development. The company secured $250 million in Series B financing in November 2021, followed by a $300 million Series C round in September 2022. These funds supported the development of its lead candidate, izokibep, and portfolio expansion through acquisitions and licensing.[1][2]
The company faced challenges in 2023, including a clinical setback with izokibep in 2023, prompting leadership changes. In May 2024, Shao-Lee Lin stepped down as CEO, and Mina Kim, the chief legal and administrative officer, was appointed as her successor.[3][4]
In early 2025, it announced a merger with Alumis, Inc., another immunology-focused biopharma company, in an all-stock deal. The merger, amended in March, aimed to create a combined entity with a cash runway of approximately $737 million. The deal faced competing buyout offers from Concentra Biosciences, which Acelyrin's board rejected. A special shareholder meeting to vote on the merger was scheduled for May 13, 2025.[5][3]
On May 21, 2025, Alumis announced that it had completed its merger with Acelyrin.[6]
Pipeline and research
Acelyrin's therapeutic focus is on immunology, with several projects in development:
- Izokibep: A small protein therapeutic designed to inhibit interleukin-17A (IL-17A) with high potency. Izokibep is in Phase 3 clinical trials for hidradenitis suppurativa, psoriatic arthritis, and uveitis, and Phase 2 trials for axial spondyloarthritis. Its small molecular size—about one-tenth that of a monoclonal antibody—allows for high drug exposure via subcutaneous injection, potentially overcoming limitations of traditional monoclonal antibodies. Acelyrin held global development and commercialization rights for izokibep under an exclusive licensing agreement with Affibody AB from Sweden until 2025 when the licensing agreement was terminated.[7] In 2024, Acelyrin dropped its focus on izokibep after a failure in a Phase 3 clinical trial.[8][9]
- Lonigutamab: An anti-IGF-1R antibody being developed for thyroid eye disease (TED), a debilitating autoimmune condition causing eye bulging and vision changes. Positive proof-of-concept data from a Phase 1/2 trial were announced in 2024.[10][11]
- VB-517: An early-stage candidate in Acelyrin's portfolio, though specific details about its target or indication remain limited.[12]
Financials and market performance
As of April 25, 2025, Acelyrin's stock price was $2.17, with a market capitalization of $219 million and 101 million shares outstanding. The company's stock has experienced significant volatility, reaching a 52-week low of $1.85 in 2024. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 87.31% of Acelyrin's stocks.[13] The company reported no trailing 12-month revenue as of December 31, 2024, consistent with its pre-commercial stage.[14][3]
Leadership and strategy
Acelyrin is led by a team of executives with experience in the biopharma industry, with Mina Kim, serving as Chief Executive Officer since May 2024, Bruce Cozadd serving as the Chair of the Board of Directors and Shephard Mpofu, serving as the Chief Medical Officer.[15][16][17]
Acelyrin has pursued strategic acquisitions and partnerships to expand its portfolio:
- ValenzaBio: Acquired in January 2023 to bolster Acelyrin's immunology pipeline.[18]
- Affibody AB: A licensing agreement for izokibep, providing Acelyrin with global development and commercialization rights (excluding select Asian countries). This agreement was terminated in February 2025.[19]
- Alumis Merger: Announced in February 2025 and amended in March 2025.[20]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 LaHucik, Kyle (2021-11-16). "Acelyrin reels in $250M to fund 3 late-stage trials of inflammatory disease antibody licensed from Affibody | Fierce Biotech". www.fiercebiotech.com. Retrieved 2025-05-05.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Waldron, James (2022-09-13). "Acelyrin brings total raised in 1 year past past $500M mark". www.fiercebiotech.com. Retrieved 2025-05-05.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 "Acelyrin 2025 Company Profile: Stock Performance & Earnings | PitchBook". pitchbook.com. Retrieved 2025-05-05.
- ↑ Taylor, Nick Paul (2023-09-12). "Acelyrin fails late-phase clinical trial months after $540M IPO". www.fiercebiotech.com. Retrieved 2025-05-05.
- ↑ "Acelyrin rejects buyout offer from Tang's Concentra, sticks to Alumis merger". Endpoints News. Retrieved 2025-05-05.
- ↑ "Alumis Completes Merger with ACELYRIN". Alumis. Retrieved 2025-08-26.
- ↑ Klint, Susanne; Feldwisch, Joachim; Gudmundsdotter, Lindvi; Dillner Bergstedt, Karin; Gunneriusson, Elin; Höidén Guthenberg, Ingmarie; Wennborg, Anders; Nyborg, Andrew C.; Kamboj, Amol P.; Peloso, Paul M.; Bejker, David; Frejd, Fredrik Y. (2023). "Izokibep: Preclinical development and first-in-human study of a novel IL-17A neutralizing Affibody molecule in patients with plaque psoriasis". mAbs. 15 (1). doi:10.1080/19420862.2023.2209920. ISSN 1942-0870. PMC 10187109 Check
|pmc=value (help). PMID 37184136 Check|pmid=value (help). Unknown parameter|article-number=ignored (help) - ↑ Incorvaia, Darren (2024-08-13). "Acelyrin drops izokibep, lays off 3rd of staff". www.fiercebiotech.com. Retrieved 2025-05-05.
- ↑ Taylor, Nick Paul (2023-09-12). "Acelyrin fails late-phase clinical trial months after $540M IPO". www.fiercebiotech.com. Retrieved 2025-05-05.
- ↑ "Acelyrin unveils phase 3 program design for lonigutamab in thyroid eye disease". Ophthalmology Times. 2025-01-08. Retrieved 2025-05-05.
- ↑ "ACELYRIN, INC. Announces Positive Phase 1/2 Proof-of-Concept Data for Lonigutamab, First Subcutaneous Anti-IGF-1R to Demonstrate Clinical Responses in Thyroid Eye Disease". BioSpace. 2024-03-20. Retrieved 2025-05-05.
- ↑ "VB 517 - AdisInsight". adisinsight.springer.com. Retrieved 2025-05-05.
- ↑ "Acelyrin (SLRN) Institutional Ownership 2025". www.marketbeat.com. Retrieved 2025-05-05.
- ↑ "Less than two years after blockbuster IPO, Acelyrin merges with Alumis to combine cash, assets". Endpoints News. Retrieved 2025-05-05.
- ↑ "Mina Kim - SLRN | ACELYRIN Inc. - Wall Street Journal". www.wsj.com. Retrieved 2025-05-05.
- ↑ Buntz, Brian (2022-03-18). "Jazz Pharmaceuticals' CEO Bruce Cozadd joins Acelyrin's board". Drug Discovery and Development. Retrieved 2025-05-05.
- ↑ "ACELYRIN, INC. Announces Leadership Transition - May 09, 2024". BioSpace. 2024-05-09. Retrieved 2025-05-05.
- ↑ Gormley, Brian (2023-01-05). "Biotech Startup Acelyrin Buys Drugmaker ValenzaBio in Stock Deal". Wall Street Journal. ISSN 0099-9660. Retrieved 2025-05-05.
- ↑ Taylor, Nick Paul (2025-02-03). "Affibody regains drug, says ex-ally unable to capitalize on data". www.fiercebiotech.com. Retrieved 2025-05-05.
- ↑ "Nasdaq Neophytes Acelyrin, Alumis Merge to Tackle Immune-Mediated Diseases". BioSpace. 2025-02-07. Retrieved 2025-05-05.
External links
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