India Pharma Outlook Team | Thursday, 26 February 2026
GSK plc has announced it will acquire Canada-based 35Pharma Inc. for $950 million in cash, adding a promising pulmonary hypertension treatment candidate to its pipeline.
The deal gives GSK full ownership of 35Pharma and its lead investigational therapy, HS235, which recently completed Phase I trials in healthy volunteers.
HS235 is now preparing to enter studies in pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) and pulmonary hypertension due to heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (PH-HFpEF). Pulmonary hypertension is a progressive and life-threatening disease marked by high blood pressure in the lungs.
Early symptoms include shortness of breath, fatigue, and chest pain, often leading to heart failure. The condition affects an estimated 82 million people worldwide. In the U.S., about 100,000 patients are addressable across PAH and PH-HFpEF.
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HS235 targets the activin receptor signaling pathway, a validated approach in pulmonary hypertension treatment. The therapy is designed to reduce binding to BMP9 and BMP10, which are linked to side effects such as bleeding and broken blood vessels. Lower bleeding risk could be significant, as many patients require blood thinners.
Early studies also suggest metabolic benefits, including fat-selective weight loss, preserved lean muscle mass, and improved insulin sensitivity—important factors given high obesity rates in this population.
Tony Wood, chief scientific officer, GSK, said: “Pulmonary hypertension affects millions of people worldwide, yet patients are underserved. We’re delighted to add HS235 to our pipeline, a potential best-in-class medicine with a differentiated profile to reduce risk of bleeding and provide potential metabolic benefits clinically relevant to PH patients.”
Ilia Tikhomirov, CEO, 35Pharma, said: “In recent years, we witnessed a revolution in our understanding of pulmonary hypertension and how this life-threatening disease could be reversed. We are pleased to be joining forces with GSK, a leader in respiratory and inflammatory drivers of disease, who shares our vision of HS235’s potential to transform the treatment of this debilitating condition.”
