The archive · Bio & Materials · Product decision · 2024–2026
Verdiva Bio: Ex-Aiolos team raises $411M for oral GLP-1
Founded in 2024, Verdiva secured global rights to Sciwind's oral GLP-1, raised $411M, and completed phase 2b enrollment in 2026.
Verdiva Bio
What the business is
Operating as a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company for obesity and cardiometabolic diseases: the pipeline comes from China's Sciwind, covering next-generation oral/injectable weight-loss drugs and including a potential first-in-class once-weekly oral GLP-1.
Starting capital：$411M Series A (oversubscribed, co-led by Forbion and General Atlantic)
How it started
Formed in 2024: the company obtained global development and commercialization rights outside Greater China and Korea from Sciwind Biosciences, with a pipeline including a phase-2-ready once-weekly oral GLP-1; officially launched on 2025-01-09 and simultaneously announced an oversubscribed $411M Series A co-led by Forbion and General Atlantic, with participation from RA Capital, OrbiMed, Logos Capital, Lilly Asia Ventures, and LYFE Capital. Founder Khurem Farooq previously served as CEO of Aiolos Bio (a year earlier the company was sold to GSK for about $1 billion), the core team is largely composed of former Aiolos colleagues, and the Chairman is Mark Pruzanski.
What happened
In 2026, the randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 2b EVOLVE-2 study of VRB-101 (oral formulation of ecnoglutide) completed enrollment: more than 200 subjects, 22 U.S. sites, 5 active arms plus a placebo arm, once-weekly oral administration for 20 weeks, with the primary endpoint being mean percent change in body weight from baseline; topline data are expected at the end of 2026, and if positive, phase 3 will start in 2027. The pipeline also includes VRB-103 (once-weekly oral amylin, which can be used in combination with VRB-101) and long-acting subcutaneous amylin.
How it ended up
In progress: as of 2026-09-01, EVOLVE-2 has completed enrollment and is awaiting topline data; the company is still advancing the oral GLP-1 and amylin pipelines and has not disclosed new financing.
Background
Verdiva Bio was formed in 2024 and officially launched in London and San Francisco on 2025-01-09 as a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on obesity and cardiometabolic disease. On its launch day, it simultaneously announced an oversubscribed $411M Series A co-led by Forbion and General Atlantic, with participation from RA Capital, OrbiMed, Logos Capital, Lilly Asia Ventures, and LYFE Capital; BioPharma Dive said it was the third-largest funding round among the top VC firms it has tracked since 2022.
Founder Khurem Farooq was previously CEO of Aiolos Bio and Gyroscope Therapeutics: BioPharma Dive reported that a year earlier Aiolos had just been sold to GSK for about $1 billion, and this former team almost entirely restarted together; the CSO, CBO, and CTO were all executives in the same roles at Aiolos, and the Chairman is Mark Pruzanski, former CEO of Versanis Bio and founder of Intercept.
The pipeline and the bet both center on 'oral + once-weekly': in 2024 the company obtained global development and commercialization rights outside Greater China and Korea from China's Sciwind Biosciences, including a phase-2-ready potential first-in-class once-weekly oral GLP-1 (VRB-101, oral formulation of ecnoglutide), once-weekly oral amylin (VRB-103), and long-acting subcutaneous amylin. The CEO's stated position is that an oral weekly formulation is expected to 'substantially improve patient accessibility and affordability,' directly challenging the injectable position of Wegovy/Zepbound.
In 2026, the phase 2b EVOLVE-2 study of VRB-101 completed enrollment: more than 200 subjects, 22 U.S. sites, 5 active arms plus placebo, once-weekly oral administration for 20 weeks, topline data expected at the end of 2026, and if positive phase 3 will start in 2027; VRB-103 is being advanced in parallel as a combination candidate. The company remains clinical-stage and has not disclosed revenue.
What has to be true
- The team has already validated an exit: a year earlier Farooq sold Aiolos Bio to GSK for about $1 billion, and the same group is starting a new company again, giving high credibility with capital.
- The bet is on a formulation inflection point: GLP-1 efficacy has been validated by the market, but injectables are the biggest usage barrier; oral + once-weekly directly removes the barrier.
- The China licensing model reduces risk: obtaining a phase-2-ready molecule from Sciwind skips early-stage development risk and goes directly into clinical development after financing.
- The oversubscribed $411M is capital endorsement: Forbion and General Atlantic co-led, one round fully funded the clinical advancement budget, and the company was clinical-stage at launch.
What can be applied
Licensing mature molecules and improving dosing can disrupt markets; first movers need not invent targets.
Aftermath
As of 2026-09-01: Verdiva Bio is headquartered in London and San Francisco and remains clinical-stage. EVOLVE-2 (VRB-101, oral ecnoglutide) phase 2b completed enrollment, >200 people, 22 U.S. sites, topline data expected at the end of 2026, and if positive phase 3 will proceed in 2027; VRB-103 (once-weekly oral amylin) is under development as a combination candidate. Since completing the oversubscribed $411M Series A in 2025-01, no new financing has been disclosed.
Sources
- Verdiva Bio launches with over $410 million in Series A financing to advance next-generation therapies
- Verdiva starts up with $411M and a portfolio of obesity drugs from China
- Forbion Co-Leads over $410M Series A Financing
- Verdiva Bio completes enrolment for phase 2b study of oral GLP-1 candidate VRB-101
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