Successful exit for HTGF: Pacira BioSciences Acquires GQ Bio

HTGF portfolio company GQ Bio, pioneering a high-capacity adenovirus gene therapy vector platform, was acquired by Pacira BioSciences, Inc. (Nasdaq: PCRX). Pacira, the industry leader in its commitment to deliver innovative, non-opioid pain therapies to transform the lives of patients, has acquired the remaining approximately 81 percent equity interest of GQ Bio Therapeutics GmbH for approximately $32 million, net of working capital and other transaction adjustments, to equity holders other than Pacira.

As part of the deal, HTGF, one of Europe’s leading seed investors, sold its shares. HTGF recognized the strong technology at the forefront of scientific development, combined with a visionary team, early on and led the initial funding round in 2012 together with Innovationsstarter Fonds Hamburg. HTGF closely supported the successful development of GQ Bio and reaffirmed its strong commitment in the Series A round in 2021.

GQ Bio has been pioneering a high-capacity adenoviral vector (HCAd) gene therapy vector platform to address some of the big challenges in the gene therapy field: Transfer of large and multiple genes with a single vector, highly efficient gene delivery and large-scale manufacturability. Based on this HCAd vector platform, GQ Bio has been developing transformative treatments for chronic, prevalent diseases such as osteoarthritis and intervertebral disc degeneration. PCRX-201 was originally developed by GQ Bio before it was acquired by Pacira and advanced into clinical trials. In November 2024, Pacira reported promising data from a large Phase 1 study in which PCRX-201 provided sustained improvements in knee pain, stiffness, and function through two years following local administration, with a well-tolerated safety profile. In order to continuously improve the HCAd platform, GQ Bio has “digitalized” the HCAd biology and is employing bioinformatics tools including AI to generate the next generation of gene therapy candidates. GQ Bio was co-founded by Kilian Guse and based on his postdoctoral work at Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas.

The transaction builds upon Pacira’s previous investments in GQ Bio, as well as the two companies’ partnership for the development of a commercially scalable manufacturing process for PCRX-201 (enekinragene inzadenovec) and other products utilizing GQ Bio’s high-capacity adenovirus, or HCAd, gene therapy vector platform.

Pacira intends to maintain GQ Bio’s operations and invest in its HCAd gene therapy vector platform and innovative products built on the platform, leveraging Pacira’s clinical, regulatory and commercial capabilities.

“We are confident that this transaction will enhance our ability to address unmet patient needs,” said Frank D. Lee, chief executive officer of Pacira. “We have seen GQ Bio’s platform generate encouraging clinical data with PCRX-201 in osteoarthritis, underscoring the potential of this novel platform. Beyond the lead indication in osteoarthritis, we believe the HCAd platform has great potential to solidify Pacira as a leading developer of new treatments for musculoskeletal pain and adjacencies by addressing the underlying cause of chronic pain using a targeted molecular approach.”

Kilian Guse, chief executive office of GQ Bio, said: “We are very excited to join Pacira and to bring our gene therapy expertise and technology to this great organization. Pacira and GQ Bio have already been collaborating for several years, and we look very much forward to continuing innovating the gene therapy and musculoskeletal diseases spaces together with the Pacira team. We would like to thank the entire GQ Bio team for their extraordinarily hard, smart and passionate work as well as the many people and groups that have supported GQ Bio on its journey. We believe that under the Pacira roof, we will be able to expand and accelerate the development of HCAd-based gene therapies to bring innovative medicine to patients in need.”

“GQ Bio has demonstrated that groundbreaking technology in Germany can enable the development of innovative therapies of global interest,” said Lena-Sophie Schütter, Investment Manager at HTGF. “The founders have driven the company forward with full commitment and dedication, making this exit possible through early and close collaboration with Pacira Biosciences Inc.”

“This is probably one of the most exciting gene therapy platforms I have ever had the pleasure to be involved with in my years of investing,” commented Angelika Vlachou, Partner at HTGF and Board Member of GQ Bio. “We at HTGF are more than happy to have been part of it since the early beginning. We congratulate the entire GQ Bio team on this great success.”

About Pacira

Pacira delivers innovative, non-opioid pain therapies to transform the lives of patients. Pacira has three commercial-stage non-opioid treatments: EXPAREL® (bupivacaine liposome injectable suspension), a long-acting local analgesic currently approved for infiltration, fascial plane block, and as an interscalene brachial plexus nerve block, an adductor canal nerve block, and a sciatic nerve block in the popliteal fossa for postsurgical pain management; ZILRETTA® (triamcinolone acetonide extended-release injectable suspension), an extended-release, intra-articular injection indicated for the management of osteoarthritis knee pain; and iovera®º, a novel, handheld device for delivering immediate, long-acting, drug-free pain control using precise, controlled doses of cold temperature to a targeted nerve. The Company is also advancing the development of PCRX-201, a novel, locally administered gene therapy with the potential to treat large prevalent diseases like osteoarthritis. To learn more about Pacira, visit www.pacira.com.

Press contact
Sara Marino, (973) 370-5430
sara.marino@pacira.com

About GQ Bio Therapeutics GmbH

GQ Bio is pioneering a high-capacity adenovirus (HCAd) gene therapy vector platform that addresses some of the big challenges in the gene therapy field: Transfer of large and multiple genes with a single vector, highly efficient gene delivery (high transduction efficiency), and large-scale manufacturability. Based on its HCAd vector platform, GQ Bio develops transformative treatments for chronic, prevalent conditions such as osteoarthritis and intervertebral disc degeneration. GQ Bio is headquartered in Hamburg, Germany and has sites at Luckenwalde (greater Berlin area), Germany, as well as Eupen and Liège, Belgium. To learn more about GQ Bio, visit www.gq-biotx.com.

About HTGF – High-Tech Gründerfonds 
HTGF is one of the leading and most active early-stage investors in Germany and Europe, financing start-ups in the fields of Deep Tech, Industrial Tech, Climate Tech, Digital Tech, Life Sciences and Chemistry. With its experienced investment team, HTGF supports start-ups in all phases of their development into international market leaders. HTGF invests in pre-seed and seed phases and can participate significantly in later-stage financing rounds. Across its funds, HTGF has over 2 billion euros under management. Since its inception in 2005, HTGF has financed more than 770 start-ups and achieved almost 200 successful exits.  
Fund investors in the public-private partnership include the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action, KfW Capital as well as 45 companies and family offices.  
For more information, please visit HTGF.de or follow us on LinkedIn.   

Media contact 
High-Tech Gründerfonds Management GmbH 
Tobias Jacob, Senior Marketing & Communications Manager  
T.: +49 228 – 82300 – 121
t.jacob@htgf.de