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§ Private Profile · 3551 Lawrenceville Rd, Lawrence Township, NJ 08648, USA
Biopharmaceutical company developing therapies for autoimmune diseases, including lupus and plaque psoriasis.
New York City-based Bristol Myers Squibb (BMS) - Autoimmune Disease Drugs Business is a multinational biopharmaceutical division that discovers, develops, and commercializes prescription medications for serious immunological conditions. The organization recently partnered with Bain Capital to launch a dedicated biotechnology startup backed by $300 million in funding to advance experimental therapies for lupus, plaque psoriasis, and atopic dermatitis. As part of its broader pharmaceutical portfolio, the company manufactures and distributes widely recognized prescription drugs such as Eliquis and the FDA-approved PD-1 inhibitor Opdivo. The business generates revenue through global research, manufacturing, and strategic acquisitions, operating under the leadership of Chief Executive Officer Dr. Christopher S. Boerner. The modern corporate entity was established through a 1989 merger of two historical pharmaceutical enterprises originally founded by Edward Robinson Squibb, William McLaren Bristol, and John Ripley Myers.
BMS - Autoimmune Disease Drugs Business has raised $300.0M across 1 funding round.
BMS - Autoimmune Disease Drugs Business has raised $300.0M in total across 1 funding round.
BMS - Autoimmune Disease Drugs Business has raised $300.0M across 1 funding round. Most recently, it raised $300.0M BMS - Series A in July 2025.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 1, 2025 | $300M Series A | — | Bain Capital, Bain Capital Life Sciences | Announced |
BMS - Autoimmune Disease Drugs Business has raised $300.0M in total across 1 funding round.
BMS - Autoimmune Disease Drugs Business's investors include Bain Capital, Bain Capital Life Sciences.
Bristol Myers Squibb (BMS), a global biopharmaceutical company, maintains a significant presence in autoimmune disease treatments through approved products like Orencia (abatacept) for rheumatoid arthritis and Sotyktu (deucravacitinib) for plaque psoriasis, while strategically spinning out early-stage assets to specialized biotechs.[3][8] In July 2025, BMS launched an unnamed startup backed by $300 million from Bain Capital, transferring five immunology assets—including Phase 2 afimetoran (TLR7/8 inhibitor) for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), oral TYK2 inhibitor BMS-986322 for plaque psoriasis, IL-2 fusion protein BMS-986326 for SLE and atopic dermatitis, and two Phase 1-ready biologics targeting IL18 and IL10—to focus on unmet needs in autoimmune disorders.[1][2][9] This spinout allows BMS to sharpen its portfolio on high-potential leaders like Sotyktu, while the new entity advances these promising therapies for patients with limited options, with BMS retaining nearly 20% equity, royalties, and milestones.[2]
The autoimmune drugs business addresses immune-mediated conditions affecting millions, serving patients with SLE, psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, and more by developing oral small molecules and biologics that modulate inflammatory pathways like TYK2, TLR7/8, IL-2, IL18, and IL10.[1][2] Growth momentum stems from BMS's broader strategy to generate $3.5 billion in value by 2027 via asset optimization, including this spinout amid layoffs and a pivot to core strengths in oncology, immunology, and cell therapy.[1][2]
BMS traces its roots to 1887 as a merger of Bristol-Myers and Squibb, evolving into a biopharma leader with a legacy in immunology, including Orencia's 2005 approval for rheumatoid arthritis and Sotyktu's 2022 launch as a first-in-class TYK2 inhibitor.[3][4] The autoimmune push intensified post-2019 Celgene acquisition, bolstering its immunology pipeline, but strategic shifts emerged in 2024-2025 amid patent cliffs and R&D reprioritization.[1][3] Pivotal moments include discontinuing BMS-986322 in February 2025 to prioritize Sotyktu commercialization, as stated by Chief Medical Officer Samit Hirawat, and the July 2025 spinout announcement partnering with Bain Capital.[1][2]
This unnamed biotech emerged directly from BMS's July 2025 deal, in-licensing the five assets with Bain's $300 million lead investment following their $3 billion life sciences fund close.[1][9] BMS Chief Research Officer Robert Plenge, M.D., Ph.D., joins the board, ensuring continuity, while Senior VP Julie Rozenblyum highlighted the assets' "significant potential" for patient impact.[2][9] It builds on BMS's history of spinouts, like 2020's Anteros Pharmaceuticals for inflammation therapies.[3]
BMS's autoimmune efforts ride the wave of precision immunology, fueled by TYK2 and IL pathway breakthroughs that expand beyond steroids and biologics to oral options, amid a market projected to grow as autoimmune prevalence rises with aging populations and diagnostics.[1][2][6] Timing aligns with BMS's 2025-2027 value creation goal ($3.5B target), using spinouts to monetize non-core assets while Bain's life sciences push (post-$3B fund, Mitsubishi Tanabe acquisition) accelerates biotech innovation.[1] Market forces favor this: post-COVID autoimmune flares, SLE's orphan status, and competition from AbbVie, Roche, but BMS's track record (e.g., Sotyktu success) influences ecosystems by seeding independents that could yield royalties or reacquisitions.[2][3]
The spinout exemplifies biopharma's "portfolio pruning" trend, offloading Phase 1-2 assets to nimble players, enhancing overall efficiency and patient access in a $100B+ immunology space.[1][9]
The unnamed Bain-BMS spinout is poised to nominate clinical candidates by 2026-2027, potentially delivering first Phase 3 data from afimetoran or BMS-986322 by 2028, capitalizing on TYK2/IL momentum amid rising autoimmune trial activity.[1][2] Trends like in vivo CAR-T (e.g., BMS's Orbital acquisition for B-cell reset in autoimmunity) and AI-driven target ID will shape its path, possibly expanding to fibrosis or oncology.[5][6] BMS's influence may evolve through equity upside and pipeline refills, reinforcing its immunology leadership while the startup pioneers oral therapies, ultimately tying back to transforming patient lives through bold science.[4][9]