Exhibit 99.1
Tectonic Therapeutic Announces Closing of Merger with AVROBIO as well as Concurrent Private Placement of $130.7 Million
— Tectonic will be focused on advancing a pipeline of novel G-protein-coupled receptor (“GPCR”) targeted biologic therapies, including the lead program, TX45, a Fc-relaxin fusion
— TX45 is currently being evaluated in Phase 1a/1b clinical trials as a potential treatment for Group 2 Pulmonary Hypertension with Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction (“HFpEF”), a serious condition estimated to affect over 600,000 people in the U.S. alone, currently with no approved therapies
— Tectonic’s second program is evaluating Hereditary Hemorrhagic Telangiectasia (“HHT”), the second-most common genetic bleeding disorder, representing a potential first-in-indication opportunity
— Post-transaction cash, cash equivalents and investments of approximately $181 million, before payment of final transaction-related expenses, is expected to fund current operational plans into mid-2027, including through key Phase 1b and Phase 2 readouts for TX45 expected in 2025 and 2026 respectively, and progression of the HHT program into clinical development
— Shares to trade on Nasdaq under the ticker symbol “TECX” commencing on June 21, 2024
WATERTOWN, Mass., June 20, 2024 (GLOBEL NEWSWIRE) — Tectonic Therapeutic, Inc. (“Tectonic”) (NASDAQ: TECX), a clinical stage biotechnology company focused on the discovery and development of therapeutic proteins and antibodies that modulate the activity of GPCRs, today announced the completion of its previously announced merger with AVROBIO, Inc. (“AVROBIO”). The combined company will operate under the name Tectonic Therapeutic, Inc., and its shares are expected to begin trading on the Nasdaq Global Market on June 21, 2024 under the ticker symbol “TECX”.
Concurrent with the merger, Tectonic completed a $130.7 million private placement with a syndicate of new and existing investors, including a major mutual fund, TAS Partners, 5AM Ventures, EcoR1 Capital, Polaris Partners, certain funds and accounts advised by Farallon Capital Management, Vida Ventures, the PagsGroup, and other undisclosed investors. Following these transactions, Tectonic’s cash, cash equivalents and investments of approximately $181 million at close, before payment of final transaction-related expenses, is expected to fund current operational plans into mid-2027.
“It’s an exciting time to be transitioning into a publicly-traded company. We expect to initiate a randomized Phase 2 clinical trial for our lead program, TX45, in Group 2 Pulmonary Hypertension in the setting of Left Heart Disease with Preserved Ejection Fraction in the second half of this year. Results from the ongoing Phase 1a clinical trial in this patient population are expected in mid-2024, to be followed by Phase 1b results expected in 2025 and results from the Phase 2 clinical trial expected in 2026. We also expect to select a potential development candidate for our second program targeting a treatment for HHT, later this year, with the start of corresponding clinical studies anticipated to commence in the fourth quarter of 2025 or the first quarter of 2026,” said Alise Reicin, M.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of Tectonic.
“We believe we are strongly positioned to enter the public markets at this time, with a solid financial foundation, investor syndicate and leadership team, and with several potential catalysts over the next two years, setting the stage for meaningful value creation. This transaction represents a major milestone in the evolution of Tectonic and in our efforts to bring innovative medicines to patients,” added Dr. Reicin.