Biogen has licensed exclusive global rights to Vanqua Bio’s preclinical C5aR1 antagonist, paying $70 million up front and agreeing to as much as $990 million in future milestones. The deal hands Biogen full responsibility for development, manufacturing and commercialization and follows preclinical data the company says justify advancing toward first‑in‑human studies. Vanqua will retain focus on its neuroscience pipeline while taking tiered royalties if the drug reaches market. C5aR1 is a receptor in the complement pathway that amplifies inflammation; inhibitors aim to blunt innate immune overactivation in diseases ranging from autoimmunity to inflammatory-driven tissue damage. Biogen executives framed the acquisition as a strategic push into immunology to diversify beyond neurology, while Vanqua’s management highlighted Biogen’s scale for development.