Abcuro Raises $66M to Advance Ulviprubart Into New Phase 3 IBM Trial

Abcuro Raises $66 Million to Advance Ulviprubart Into New Phase 3 IBM Trial

Abcuro has raised $66 million to advance ulviprubart (ABC008) into a new Phase 3 clinical trial for inclusion body myositis (IBM).

The company plans to begin the new study later in 2026, focusing on patients with less severe IBM following encouraging results from a pre-specified patient group in its earlier Phase 2/3 MUSCLE trial.

Advancing Ulviprubart in IBM

Abcuro CEO Alex Martin said the company has alignment with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on a path forward for the new Phase 3 study.

The decision follows results from the MUSCLE trial, which did not meet its primary or key secondary endpoints across the overall study population.

However, patients who entered the trial with an IBM Functional Rating Scale score of 29 or higher showed more encouraging results.

In that group, patients receiving either dose of ulviprubart declined by 1.3 IBMFRS points over 76 weeks, compared with 2.6 points for placebo, representing a 50% slowing of functional decline relative to placebo.

A New Phase 3 Study

Abcuro is now designing the next Phase 3 trial around patients with less advanced IBM, where the company believes ulviprubart may have its strongest opportunity to slow disease progression.

Details about the new study, including eligibility criteria and trial design, have not yet been announced.

The new financing allows Abcuro to continue development of ulviprubart and prepare for another Phase 3 trial later in 2026.

Continuing Development in IBM

Ulviprubart remains an active clinical development program for inclusion body myositis, with the company's next study focused on the patient population that showed the most encouraging results in the earlier trial.

The new funding provides Abcuro with additional resources to test whether this targeted approach can demonstrate a clinically meaningful benefit in a new Phase 3 study.