Lisata Therapeutics has acquired Marea Therapeutics in an all-stock transaction, pivoting its focus to cardioendocrine diseases. Supported by a concurrent $225 million private placement from prominent life sciences investors, the combined company will advance Marea's clinical pipeline. This includes the ANGPTL4 inhibitor MAR001/005 for severe hypertriglyceridemia and MAR002 for acromegaly, with both Phase 2 trials expecting topline data in Q4 2027. The deal follows a turbulent period for Lisata, which cut 72% of its staff after a failed merger with Kuva Labs.
Lisata acquisition of Marea Therapeutics
- ▪Following the transaction, pre-acquisition Lisata shareholders own approximately 2.39% of the combined company, Marea stockholders own 59.54%, and private placement investors own 38.07%.
- ▪Under the acquisition terms, Marea Therapeutics' outstanding equity interests were exchanged for 1,793,129 Lisata common shares and 211,365.213 Series C preferred shares.
- ▪Lisata Therapeutics acquired Marea Therapeutics on September 17, 2026, in an all-stock transaction to focus on developing cardioendocrine disease treatments.
MAR001/005 severe hypertriglyceridemia trial
- ▪Marea Therapeutics' lead candidate, MAR001/005, is a monoclonal antibody targeting ANGPTL4 currently undergoing a Phase 2b clinical trial for severe hypertriglyceridemia.
- ▪Marea Therapeutics licensed the ANGPTL4-inhibiting drug candidate MAR001/005 from Novartis to develop it for severe hypertriglyceridemia.
- ▪The Phase 2b clinical trial evaluating MAR001/005 in patients with severe hypertriglyceridemia is expected to report topline data in the fourth quarter of 2027.
MAR002 acromegaly development program
- ▪The Phase 2 clinical trial of MAR002 for the treatment of acromegaly is scheduled to report topline results in the fourth quarter of 2027.
- ▪MAR002 is an allosteric human monoclonal growth hormone receptor antagonist antibody being evaluated in a Phase 2 trial for patients with acromegaly.
Private placement financing details
- ▪Lisata Therapeutics entered a purchase agreement for a concurrent private placement of Series C preferred stock to raise approximately $225 million in gross proceeds.
- ▪The $225 million private placement financing is projected to fund the combined operations of Lisata Therapeutics and Marea Therapeutics into 2028.
- ▪The private placement financing involved the issuance of 150,867.995 Series C preferred shares at an equivalent price of approximately $1.4914 per common share.
Leading life sciences investor participation
- ▪Additional institutional participants in the financing included Omega Funds, Surveyor Capital, Columbia Threadneedle Investments, Nantahala Capital, Affinity Asset Advisors, venBio, and Rock Springs Capital.
- ▪The oversubscribed private placement financing included participation from RA Capital Management, Forbion, Third Rock Ventures, Alpha Wave, Perceptive Advisors, and Sofinnova Investments.
Lisata strategic alternatives process
- ▪In August 2026, Lisata Therapeutics cut 72% of its workforce and initiated a lawsuit against Kuva Labs following the termination of their merger agreement.
- ▪Lisata Therapeutics pursued strategic alternatives after a planned acquisition by development partner Kuva Labs collapsed due to Kuva's failure to secure financing.
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