Its one of Europes largest-ever biotech VC deals, signalling investor appetite for theboomingweight loss market.
The company promises to offer less invasive pills, instead of injectables.
Its most advanced product is an oral-based GLP-1, a drug that curbs hunger.
The fledgling company is not developing its therapies from scratch.
It has acquired the rights to a suite of weight loss drugs from Chinese firm Sciwind Biosciences.
Global spending on these drugssurpassed$30bn for the first time in 2024.
By oneestimate, the GLP-1 drug market could reach more than $200bnin annual sales by 2031.
The meteoric rise in weight loss drugs correlates with rising levels of obesity globally.
EvenElon Muskadmitted to taking Ozempic.
However, somepatientshave experienced worrying side effects.
Whether Verdivas new treatments are a better alternative to the status quo remains to be seen.
But it still has to go through phase three trials as well, which can take years.
Only after completing all three trials can a drug hit the shelves.
Most medications never make it out of the clinical testing stage.
However, that uncertainty clearly isnt deterring investors.
In 2024, VCsinvestedmore than $1.2bn in weight loss startups, the second-highest level ever.
Story bySion Geschwindt
Sion is a freelance science and technology reporter, specialising in climate and energy.
