UCB bets on regenerative epilepsy therapy with Neurona buy

UCB to acquire Neurona Therapeutics for up to $1.15 billion ($650 million upfront plus up to $500 million in milestones), adding NRTX-1001, a regenerative neural cell therapy in Phase I/II for drug-resistant mesial temporal lobe epilepsy that aims to restore neural circuitry by delivering GABA-producing cells. The deal underscores UCB’s push into regenerative medicine, with RMAT/PRIME designations reflecting regulatory interest, and is expected to close by the end of Q2 2026, while 2026 revenue and EBITDA guidance remain unchanged.