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MoonLake Immunotherapeutics
MoonLake Immunotherapeutics was formed in 2021 through a reverse merger with a special-purpose acquisition company helmed by Jorge Santos da Silva.
MoonLake Immunotherapeutics
MoonLake Immunotherapeutics was formed in 2021 through a reverse merger with a special-purpose acquisition company helmed by Jorge Santos da Silva. The founding transaction pivoted on a single asset: sonelokimab, a trivalent nanobody targeting IL-17A and IL-17F, which the firm licensed from Merck KGaA after that company deprioritized the program. The firm's legal domicile is in Zug, Switzerland, but its operational and scientific leadership is distributed across Europe and the United States, with a Nasdaq listing reflecting the capital demands of late-stage immunology trials. MoonLake concentrates its financial and scientific resources on one therapeutic mechanism — dual IL-17 inhibition — pursued through a single pipeline candidate. Sonelokimab is currently in Phase 3 trials for moderate-to-severe hidradenitis suppurativa and in Phase 2 trials for psoriatic arthritis, with earlier exploration in other inflammatory conditions. The company has not diversified into platform technologies or partnered programs, making it a pure-play entity by biotech standards. Direct comparators include established monoclonal antibodies like Novartis's Cosentyx, though MoonLake argues its nanobody design enables deeper tissue penetration and higher potency. As a publicly traded entity, MoonLake's capitalization is transparent through SEC filings, with cash and cash equivalents reported at $412.4 million as of March 2025 (per the company's quarterly filing, May 2025). The firm operates without a traditional fund structure or external portfolio — deployment is operational spending on clinical trials, manufacturing scale-up, and regulatory preparation. November 2024: Reported positive 24-week data from a Phase 3 trial in hidradenitis suppurativa, demonstrating a statistically significant higher proportion of patients achieving HiSCR75 compared to placebo (per the firm, November 2024). MoonLake's structural differentiator is its extreme focus: a single molecule, two lead indications, no diversification. Unlike multi-asset biotechs that hedge scientific risk with breadth, or venture-backed private companies that spread funding across discovery platforms, MoonLake's entire value proposition rests on the differentiation of a nanobody with high solubility and potential for subcutaneous delivery at high concentrations. The governance reflects this — the founding SPAC structure allowed rapid public-market access and concentrated stakes for early backers, creating a shareholder register weighted toward biotech hedge funds and crossover investors.
General information
Firm type
Asset Manager
Year founded
2021
AUM
Undisclosed
Location
Region
Europe
Country
Switzerland
City
Zug
Corporate office
Zug, Switzerland
Principals
Jorge Santos da Silva
Chief Executive Officer
Sector focus
Frequently asked questions
What is MoonLake's lead therapeutic candidate?
MoonLake's sole clinical asset is sonelokimab, a trivalent nanobody that inhibits both IL-17A and IL-17F. The drug was originally developed by Merck KGaA and licensed by MoonLake at the time of its founding in 2021. It is being tested primarily for hidradenitis suppurativa and psoriatic arthritis, two chronic inflammatory conditions affecting large patient populations.
How is MoonLake structured from a capital perspective?
MoonLake is a Nasdaq-listed clinical-stage biotech company, not a fund or family office. All capital is deployed directly into clinical development, with no external portfolio investments. The company raised initial funding through a reverse merger with a special-purpose acquisition company in 2021 and subsequently accessed public equity markets to fund Phase 3 trials.
What are the key differentiation claims for sonelokimab?
The company claims its nanobody technology allows for higher potency per dose and better tissue penetration than existing monoclonal antibodies targeting the IL-17 pathway. Sonelokimab's small size and high solubility enable higher-concentration formulations for subcutaneous delivery. These pharmacological properties are the mechanistic basis for MoonLake's head-to-head comparisons with established IL-17 inhibitors.
What is the competitive landscape for IL-17 inhibitors?
The IL-17 inhibitor class is dominated by Novartis's Cosentyx, with additional drugs from Eli Lilly (Taltz) and UCB (Bimzelx). MoonLake positions sonelokimab as a potential next-generation entrant with dual IL-17A/F targeting, which the firm argues may confer superior efficacy in tissue-specific inflammatory diseases like hidradenitis suppurativa compared to single-target IL-17A antibodies.
Who leads the clinical development team at MoonLake?
Jorge Santos da Silva is the Chief Executive Officer and the architect of MoonLake's founding strategy to acquire and advance a deprioritized Merck KGaA asset. Specific scientific leadership details beyond the CEO are not extensively publicized, but the firm relies on a network of contract research organizations and academic investigators for trial execution.
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