UCB agreed to acquire Candid Therapeutics for up to $2.2 billion, aiming to expand its T-cell engager antibody pipeline for autoimmune and inflammatory indications. The deal adds Candid’s lead asset, cizutamig, a bispecific antibody designed to target BCMA on plasma cells and CD3 on T cells, with an intent to sustain cytotoxicity while limiting cytokine release. UCB said Candid’s technology is being evaluated across multiple Phase I programs in over 10 autoimmune indications, and Cizutamig has been clinically tested in more than 100 patients across multiple myeloma and autoimmune studies. Candid’s pipeline also includes other bispecific and trispecific T-cell engager candidates. The acquisition follows a shift in Candid’s financing and corporate path earlier in 2026 involving a planned reverse merger, which was effectively displaced by UCB’s offer. UCB described the move as part of an inorganic innovation strategy in next-generation biologics for immune-mediated diseases. For the biotech sector, the deal reinforces how established immunology franchises are using large-ticket acquisitions to expand therapeutic modalities beyond single lead programs, particularly in TCE portfolios that require continued clinical development capacity.