Framingham, Massachusetts-based Xenetic Biosciences (Nasdaq: XBIO) has agreed to acquire Switzerland-based Santersus AG in an all-stock share exchange, combining two complementary platforms targeting neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) — structures implicated in sepsis, autoimmune disease, transplant injury, and cancer. The combined US company, to be renamed Santersus Bio, Inc. and trade on Nasdaq under the ticker "SNTS," would consolidate four clinical programs under a single therapeutic target.
The transaction involves no cash consideration. Under the agreement, Xenetic will issue new shares to acquire all outstanding capital of Santersus, with Santersus equity holders receiving approximately 85% of the combined company on a fully diluted, as-converted basis, and existing Xenetic holders retaining approximately 15%, subject to adjustment based on Xenetic's net cash at closing. Key equity holders, directors, and officers of both companies have signed 180-day post-closing lock-up agreements. The transaction has been unanimously approved by both boards and is expected to close in Q4 2026, pending Xenetic stockholder approval, Nasdaq listing approval for newly issued shares, and effectiveness of a Form S-1 resale registration statement.
Santersus' NucleoCapture selective apheresis platform is designed to physically bind and remove NETs from the bloodstream or organ perfusion circuits; it is currently in a pivotal study in sepsis and advancing toward a pivotal study in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), with both programs holding FDA Breakthrough Device Designation. A third NucleoCapture program for normothermic machine perfusion of donor livers is described by the companies as ready to enter pivotal studies. Xenetic's deoxyribonuclease (DNase) technology — a recombinant form of human DNase I designed to enzymatically degrade NETs within the tumor microenvironment — is being evaluated in a Phase Ib investigator-initiated study at Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center in combination with anti-CD19 chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T) therapy in patients with high-risk large B-cell lymphoma. Preclinical data presented at the 2026 American Society of Clinical Oncology Annual Meeting showed that DNase I enhanced CAR-T cell expansion, persistence, tumor control, and survival across hematologic cancer models, according to Xenetic.