Racine advises Onward Therapeutics, a Swiss biotechnology company active in the field of oncology, on its acquisition of minority stakes in Biomunex and EMERCell.

These transactions represent Onward Therapeutics’ first two strategic investments in France. Headed by the successful biotech entrepreneur Grace Yeh, Onward Therapeutics pursues a buy and build strategy with the goal to identify and develop innovative medicines for the treatment of cancer

Biomunex and EMERCell are two French biopharmaceutical and biotechnology start-ups developing projects and therapies in the field of immuno-oncology.

EMERCell is a company that has developed a platform technology to produce off-the-shelf natural killer (NK) cells. Biomurex Pharmaceuticals is a biopharmaceutical company that develops cutting-edge immunotherapy through the discovery and development of bi- and multi-specificantibodies.

These transactions will enable Onward Therapeutics to strengthen its international business by leveraging the synergies created with these two companies.

On these transactions, Racine advised Onward Therapeutics with a team composed of Bernard Laurent-Bellue, Of Counsel, Bruno Laffont, Counsel, and Ornella Bianchi, associate.

Dechert LLP (Anne-Charlotte Rivière, Partner, and Johann Gandilhon, associate) advised Biomunex.

PMLC Avocats (Pierre Lafont, Partner) advised EMERCell.

About Racine:

Racine is an independent French business law firm that brings together 230 lawyers and jurists in 7 offices: Paris, Bordeaux, Lyon, Marseille, Nantes, Strasbourg and Brussels.

Racine is characterized by a “full service” approach in business law, consulting and litigation.

Its lawyers, who are involved and pragmatic, support clients by providing them with innovative solutions in their daily activities, support for strategic projects and crisis management. They focus on building strong and lasting partnerships with clients.

Racine acts for companies from different sectors of industry and services, professional and inter-professional organizations as well as public authorities. The firm has developed particular expertise in the luxury, media, real estate, agri-food and distribution sectors.

Racine is a member of the international network OMNIA. The firm also maintains close relationships with many foreign firms.