Autoimmune Drug Market Poised to Reach $176 Billion by 2030, Spurring Global Pharma M&A and Pipeline Expansion

　　【Pharmaceutical Network Industry DynamicsIn recent years, the autoimmune field has been increasingly attracting the attention of pharmaceutical companies worldwide. Many multinational pharmaceutical enterprises have taken actions to strengthen their capabilities in this area. For instance, Eli Lilly has already made numerous strategic moves in the autoimmune space and holds several marketed autoimmune products, including ixekizumab, an IL-17 inhibitor used for treating psoriasis and ankylosing spondylitis; and baricitinib, a JAK1/2 inhibitor indicated for rheumatoid arthritis and alopecia areata. Additionally, in 2023, Eli Lilly achieved significant progress in the autoimmune field with two products gaining approval: lebrikizumab, an IL-13 inhibitor for atopic dermatitis, and mirikizumab, an IL-23p19 inhibitor for ulcerative colitis.
 

Besides Eli Lilly, many foreign pharmaceutical companies are actively strengthening their capabilities in the autoimmune field. Data shows that in the first half of 2024, a total of 25 biotech companies were acquired, of which 11 were primarily focused on the autoimmune area.
 

On June 27, AbbVie announced the acquisition of Celsius Therapeutics, which is committed to developing new therapies for patients with inflammatory diseases. According to available information, Celsius’ primary research asset is CEL383, a potential TREM1 antibody drug that has completed Phase 1 clinical trials for the treatment of IBD (NCT05901883). In preclinical trials, CEL383 has been shown to inhibit TREM1 signaling, thereby reducing the levels of various inflammatory mediators with high clinical relevance under inflammatory conditions.
 

On May 28, Asahi Kasei Corporation, a Japanese company, proposed to acquire Calliditas Therapeutics, a Swedish pharmaceutical company, for 11.8 billion Swedish kronor (approximately 1.1 billion US dollars). The acquisition aims to expand the company’s product portfolio in the fields of kidney and autoimmune diseases, establish operations in Europe, and enhance its R&D pipeline. Data shows that Calliditas’ marketed product is Nefecon (budesonide enteric-coated capsules), an approved therapy for IgA nephropathy. Through a unique manufacturing process, budesonide is targeted for release in the mucosal B cells at the terminal ileum. After the capsule dissolves, the three-layer coated pellets provide sustained and stable release of budesonide, achieving high concentration coverage throughout the target area, thereby reducing the production of galactose-deficient IgA1 antibodies that trigger IgA nephropathy, achieving therapeutic effects for IgA nephropathy.
 

On May 28, Johnson & Johnson announced that it had reached an agreement with Numab Therapeutics, a clinical-stage biotechnology company, to acquire its wholly-owned subsidiary Yellow Jersey Therapeutics from Numab's shareholders. The acquisition aims to obtain the global rights to NM26, a bispecific antibody currently in clinical trials, with a total transaction value of approximately $1.25 billion. Data shows that NM26 (NM26-2198, ND026) is a bispecific antibody targeting IL-4Rα and IL-31, intended for the treatment of atopic dermatitis (AD). This antibody therapy is designed to prevent keratinocyte immunopathology, immune cell activation, skin barrier dysfunction, and itching induced by IL-4/IL-13 and IL-31, which are pathophysiological characteristics of AD.
 

On May 16, Johnson & Johnson also announced that it would acquire Proteologix Inc., a partner company of Kangjun Capital, for $850 million in an all-cash deal. Data shows that Proteologix Inc. is a non-listed biotechnology company focusing on precision immunology. The main pipeline portfolio of Proteologix includes PX128 and PX130. Among them: PX128 is a bispecific antibody targeting IL-13+ TSLP, aimed at moderate to severe atopic dermatitis (AD) and moderate to severe asthma, and is about to enter Phase I clinical trials; PX130 is a bispecific antibody targeting IL-13 + IL-22, aimed at moderate to severe atopic dermatitis (AD), and is currently in the preclinical development stage.
 

On May 22, Biogen and immunotherapy company Human Immunology Biosciences (hereinafter referred to as HI-Bio) announced that the two companies had reached an acquisition agreement. Data shows that HI-Bio's main asset, Felzartamab (Phesartamab), is a monoclonal antibody targeting CD38, mainly used for the development of autoimmune indications. Currently, clinical trials of Felzartamab for primary membranous nephropathy, antibody-mediated rejection, and IgA nephropathy are in Phase II, while lupus nephritis is in Phase I.
 

On April 23, Incyte announced that it would acquire Escient, which focuses on inflammatory diseases, and its assets for $750 million. Escient's pipeline includes two investigational drugs: EP262 and EP547. EP262 is used to treat chronic inducible urticaria, chronic spontaneous urticaria, and atopic dermatitis, while EP547 is used to treat cholestatic pruritus and uremic pruritus.
 

On April 10, Vertex Pharmaceuticals announced that Vertex and Alpine Immune Sciences had signed an acquisition agreement to acquire biotechnology company Alpine for approximately $4.9 billion (equivalent to 35.4 billion RMB) to obtain the latter's drug for treating renal autoimmune diseases.
 

It is reported that autoimmune diseases are caused by the immune response to self-antigens, leading to damage of one’s own tissues. The total number of people affected by autoimmune diseases worldwide is estimated to exceed 500 million. Data predicts that by 2030, the global market size for autoimmune disease drugs is expected to reach $176 billion, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.6% from 2022 to 2030, indicating broad prospects for this market. Consequently, it has attracted the entry of many pharmaceutical companies.
 

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