Avere Therapeutics is advancing AVR-001 (HS-20118), a cyclic peptide IL-23R antagonist designed for once-weekly oral dosing to treat inflammatory diseases including plaque psoriasis, ulcerative colitis, and Crohn's disease. AVR-001 was licensed from Hansoh Pharmaceutical under an exclusive ex-Greater China agreement signed in June 2026 that included $120 million in upfront payments, up to $2.18 billion in development and sales milestones, and mid-single- to low-double-digit royalties. Hansoh generated Phase Ib data in moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis showing Week 4 and Week 8 PASI and PASI 75 responses comparable on a cross-trial basis to once-daily icotrokinra, and reported a plasma half-life for AVR-001 of approximately 100 hours supporting once-weekly dosing. Avere announced a $500 million private placement (in addition to a $320 million concurrent placement tied to its merger with NextCure) and said the combined $820 million in pre-merger capital should fund the company's operating plan through 2029. The company is merging with NextCure and, upon closing in the second half of 2026, the combined company will trade on Nasdaq as AVRX with Hansoh expected to hold between 30% and 40% of the combined company and to appoint two directors to the board.

Total raised

$500M

Funding rounds

1

Latest round

Equity

Latest activity

Aug 2026