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Fulcrum to Merge with Slate in All-Stock Deal After Drug Setback
The combined biotech will keep Slate’s name and ticker as it adds a migraine antibody and financing expected to fund operations into 2029.
On Monday, Fulcrum Therapeutics announced a definitive agreement to merge with privately held Slate Medicines in an all-stock transaction, creating a combined entity operating under the Slate Medicines name and trading on Nasdaq under ticker "SLTE."
Fulcrum sought strategic alternatives after discontinuing development of pociredir, its lead sickle cell drug, last month when the FDA flagged potential cancer risks, prompting an 85% workforce reduction to nine employees.
Concurrent with the merger, Slate secured $245 million in private placement financing led by Frazier Life Sciences, with the combined capital expected to fund operations into 2029.
Led by Slate Medicines CEO Gregory Oakes, the combined company will prioritize SLTE-1009, a clinical-stage antibody targeting PACAP and VIP for migraine prevention.
The company targets the $5 billion global migraine market, aiming to offer enhanced efficacy through mid-stage development of SLTE-1009 and an additional undisclosed program.