CSL Agrees to Deal to Advance Coagulation Treatment, May Acquire Developer

By David Winning

SYDNEY--Australian pharmaceutical company CSL said on Tuesday that it has agreed to a deal to advance a blood coagulation treatment and potentially acquire its closely held Dutch developer.

CSL said it would fund the global phase 3 trial planned by VarmX, which owns the VMX-C001 treatment that aims to restore blood coagulation in patients taking a FXa inhibitor. CSL would also support efforts to bring the product to market in 2029, including its manufacturing.

CSL said it would make an upfront payment to VarmX of $117 million for an exclusive option to buy the company. A decision on whether to proceed with an acquisition would depend on the phase 3 trial outcome.

CSL would also make payments of up to $388 million through to the launch of VMX-C001, conditional on certain milestones being achieved, such as regulatory clearances.

CSL said more than 20 million patients world-wide take FXa inhibitors as chronic anticoagulation therapy. Around 3% of them experience severe bleeding or require urgent surgery.

The VMX-C001 treatment is a recombinant Factor X protein administered as a rapid single dose. It is intended to bypass FXa anticoagulation activity and restore coagulation in patients.

"This new treatment will potentially address a clear and significant unmet medical need in a well-defined and growing patient population," said Paul McKenzie, CSL's chief executive.

Write to David Winning at david.winning@wsj.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

September 15, 2025 18:39 ET (22:39 GMT)