CSL Commits $117M for Option to Acquire VarmX and Advance Novel Blood Clotting Therapy to Market

CSL has agreed to pay $117 million upfront for the option to acquire Netherlands-based VarmX, which is developing VMX-C001, a treatment designed to restore blood clotting in patients on Factor Xa inhibitors who experience life-threatening bleeding or require urgent surgery123.

The agreement gives CSL the exclusive right to acquire VarmX following successful results from a global Phase 3 trial of VMX-C001, which CSL will fully fund123.

VMX-C001 is an engineered recombinant human coagulation factor X, designed to bypass the effects of Factor Xa inhibitor anticoagulants such as Eliquis, Savaysa, and Xarelto, enabling normal blood clotting even when these drugs are present123.

Around 20 million people globally are prescribed Factor Xa inhibitors, but about 3% suffer severe bleeding or require emergency surgery each week—where there is no fully approved solution—creating significant unmet medical need2.

VMX-C001 has received FDA fast-track designation and will be evaluated in an international Phase 3 clinical trial in patients needing urgent intervention while on Factor Xa inhibitors12.

If the Phase 3 trial is successful and CSL exercises its option, VarmX shareholders stand to receive an additional $388 million up to commercial launch, and up to $1.7 billion in milestone payments linked to sales13.

The commercial launch of VMX-C001 is anticipated in 2029 if clinical development progresses as planned2.

The deal is part of CSL’s strategy to strengthen its portfolio through investment in late-stage, external opportunities and follows recent R&D budget reallocations and workforce reductions13.

Sources:

1. https://www.fiercebiotech.com/biotech/csl-pays-117m-option-phase-3-ready-blood-clotting-specialist-varmx

2. https://aapnews.aap.com.au/news/csl-in-757m-deal-with-pioneering-dutch-biotech

3. https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250915030511/en/VarmX-Partners-With-CSL-in-a-Strategic-Collaboration-and-Option-Agreement-to-Develop-Novel-Investigational-Coagulation-Treatment