TEL AVIV, Israel, and BURLINGTON, Mass., July 8, 2026
Chemomab Therapeutics and Scipher Medicine have entered into a definitive merger agreement to accelerate the clinical development of nebokitug, a first-in-class anti-CCL24 monoclonal antibody, through an AI-powered Phase 2 clinical trial for rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Following completion of the all-stock transaction, the combined company will operate as Scipher Medicine Corporation and trade on the Nasdaq under the proposed ticker SCIP. The transaction values the combined company at approximately $150 million before a concurrent $30 million private placement backed by investors including Northpond Ventures, Khosla Ventures, Blue Owl Healthcare Opportunities, and funds managed by Neuberger. The financing is expected to provide sufficient capital to fund operations through the second half of 2028, with topline results from the planned Phase 2 rheumatoid arthritis trial anticipated during the first half of 2028. The merger brings together Chemomab’s clinical-stage immunology pipeline and Scipher’s AI-powered precision medicine platform, creating a combined organization focused on improving treatment outcomes through biomarker-driven patient selection.
AI Network Medicine Platform to Guide Precision Phase 2 Trial
The combined company plans to leverage Scipher Medicine’s proprietary AI Network Medicine platform to support the development of nebokitug as a potential precision medicine for rheumatoid arthritis. The company’s artificial intelligence platform independently identified CCL24 as one of the highest-ranked therapeutic targets for RA and generated a molecular response signature designed to identify patients most likely to benefit from treatment. The planned Phase 2 study will incorporate PrismRA®, Scipher’s CMS-approved molecular blood test, to guide patient enrollment using validated multi-modal and multi-omic biomarkers, representing one of the first applications of AI-enabled patient selection in rheumatoid arthritis drug development. Nebokitug is designed to neutralize CCL24, a protein involved in both inflammation and fibrosis, providing a differentiated dual mechanism of action that addresses disease pathways not fully targeted by current therapies. Company executives noted that no novel mechanism of action has received FDA approval for rheumatoid arthritis since 2012, highlighting the significant unmet need for innovative treatment approaches.
Combined Business Expands Clinical and Commercial Growth Opportunities
Beyond advancing nebokitug, the merger brings together complementary commercial and technology assets expected to generate multiple long-term value opportunities. Scipher Medicine contributes several revenue-generating businesses, including biopharmaceutical partnerships utilizing its AI-based drug development platform, an expanding immunology data business, and its commercial precision medicine diagnostics business led by PrismRA®, currently the only rheumatoid arthritis treatment response test approved for reimbursement by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). Meanwhile, Chemomab contributes extensive clinical experience with nebokitug, which has demonstrated a favorable safety and tolerability profile across five clinical studies, including positive Phase 2 SPRING trial results in primary sclerosing cholangitis. Company leadership believes the combination significantly strengthens opportunities to expand nebokitug into broader immunological and fibrotic diseases while also pursuing potential strategic partnerships for future late-stage clinical development
Advertisement
Transaction Positions Combined Company for Precision Immunology Leadership
Upon completion of the transaction, Dr. Reginald Seeto will serve as Chief Executive Officer of the combined company, while Chemomab co-founder Dr. Adi Mor will join the Board of Directors. Under the merger agreement, existing Scipher shareholders are expected to own approximately 68% of the combined company, while Chemomab shareholders will own approximately 32%, in addition to receiving contingent value rights (CVRs) linked to future nebokitug development milestones. The merger has received unanimous approval from both companies’ boards and is expected to close during the fourth quarter of 2026, subject to shareholder approval and customary regulatory conditions. By combining AI-driven precision medicine, validated molecular diagnostics, and a first-in-class immunology therapy, the merged organization aims to establish a new approach to treating rheumatoid arthritis, potentially improving clinical success rates while accelerating the development of personalized therapies for patients with autoimmune diseases.
Source:Chemomab Therapeutics, press release
