UCB Expands Immunology Pipeline with Planned Acquisition of Candid Therapeutics

UCB has announced a definitive agreement to acquire clinical-stage biotechnology company Candid Therapeutics in a transaction valued at up to $2.2 billion, marking a significant expansion of its immunology portfolio and next-generation biologics capabilities.¹ The deal, which includes $2 billion upfront and up to $200 million in milestone payments, is expected to close by mid- to late-2026, pending regulatory approvals.

The acquisition reflects UCB’s broader strategy to strengthen its position in immune-mediated diseases through targeted, biology-driven approaches, particularly in areas of high unmet medical need, the company stated in a press release.¹

Focus on T-cell engagers and immune reset

Central to the acquisition is cizutamig, Candid’s lead investigational asset. Cizutamig is a bispecific antibody designed to bind B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA) on plasma cells and CD3 on T cells, thereby redirecting T cells to eliminate pathogenic B cells.

This mechanism aligns with a growing interest in “immune reset” strategies aimed at durable disease control in autoimmune conditions.^1,2

Bispecific T-cell engagers (TCEs) have been widely studied in oncology, particularly in hematologic malignancies, but their application in autoimmune diseases is an emerging area of research. By selectively depleting autoreactive B-cell populations, BCMA-targeting therapies may offer deeper and more sustained responses compared with conventional immunosuppressive approaches.^2,3

Cizutamig has already been evaluated in more than 100 patients across multiple myeloma and autoimmune indications and is currently being studied in Phase 1 trials spanning more than 10 autoimmune diseases.¹ Early development efforts have focused on balancing cytotoxic efficacy with reduced cytokine release, a key safety consideration for T-cell–redirecting therapies.^1,3

Strategic fit within UCB’s pipeline

The acquisition builds on UCB’s recent external innovation initiatives, including its collaboration with Antengene, and underscores a platform-based approach to immunology drug development. Rather than relying on a single therapeutic modality, UCB aims to target multiple B-cell subsets and disease mechanisms.

Candid’s broader pipeline includes multispecific TCE antibodies engineered to target complementary B-cell populations. This modular approach is designed to enable more comprehensive depletion of pathogenic immune cells, potentially improving long-term disease control and reducing relapse rates.^1,4

Such strategies reflect a broader industry trend toward precision immunology, where therapies are tailored to specific immune pathways and cell populations. Advances in antibody engineering and bispecific formats have accelerated the development of these next-generation biologics.^3,4

Industry context: expanding role of BCMA targeting

BCMA has emerged as a validated target in multiple myeloma, with several approved therapies demonstrating significant clinical benefit. More recently, researchers have begun exploring BCMA-directed approaches in autoimmune diseases, where long-lived plasma cells play a central role in autoantibody production.²

Early clinical and preclinical data suggest that targeting BCMA-positive cells may provide a means to reset aberrant immune responses without broadly suppressing the immune system.^2,3 This paradigm shift could address limitations of current therapies, which often require chronic administration and are associated with systemic immunosuppression.

However, challenges remain, including managing cytokine release syndrome and optimizing dosing strategies to balance efficacy and safety. Continued clinical evaluation will be critical to determining the long-term viability of TCEs in autoimmune indications.³

While cizutamig remains investigational and has not yet received regulatory approval, its progress in early clinical studies positions it as a potentially important asset in the evolving treatment landscape.

References

1. UCB to acquire Candid Therapeutics, building upon its existing immunology pipeline with novel T-cell engagers. (2026, May 3). UCB. Accessed May 4, 2026. https://www.ucb.com/newsroom/press-releases/article/ucb-to-acquire-candid-therapeutics-building-upon-its-existing-immunology-pipeline-with-novel-t-cell-engagers
2. Tai, Y.-T., & Anderson, K. C. (2015 Sep 15). Targeting B-cell maturation antigen in multiple myeloma. Immunotherapy. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26370838/
3. Labrijn, A. F., Janmaat, M. L., Reichert, J. M., & Parren, P. (2019 Jun 17). Bispecific antibodies: a mechanistic review of the pipeline. Nature Reviews Drug Discovery. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41573-019-0028-1 
4. Kang, X., Zhao, Y., Ling, H., & Huang, X. (2025, Dec 22). Bispecific and multispecific T-cell engagers: advancing the future of immunotherapy. Antibody therapeutics. https://doi.org/10.1093/abt/tbaf026