SixPeaks Bio
Basel-based biotech (founded 2022) developing ActRII/myostatin-targeting therapies to preserve muscle mass during obesity treatment; acquired by AstraZeneca in November 2025 for up to $300 million.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2022
- HeadquartersBasel, Switzerland
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What SixPeaks Bio does
SixPeaks Bio AG is a Basel, Switzerland-based biotechnology company founded in 2022 that developed a pipeline of therapeutics for obesity and weight management, with a specific mechanistic focus on preserving muscle mass during fat loss. The company's lead program targeted activin receptors (ActRII) — through myostatin inhibition — to address the muscle loss commonly observed in patients on GLP-1-based obesity treatments, positioning the asset as a complementary, body-composition-improving therapy rather than a stand-alone weight-loss drug. The technology was identified by PatentVest as one of approximately 20 muscle-preservation programs in development for obesity, reflecting both the novelty of the mechanism and the early but active state of the therapeutic category.
SixPeaks Bio operated as a pre-clinical / pre-commercial biotech with a lean team of 1-10 employees and a single-asset focus, structured to develop its ActRII program to a value-inflection point rather than to commercialize independently. The company's go-to-market model was effectively a partnership or acquisition path with a major pharmaceutical company, and the revenue model was a one-time licensing / acquisition event rather than recurring product sales; pricing, distribution and marketing channels were all undeveloped at the time of the acquisition.
The company's value was realized through a strategic transaction with AstraZeneca: AstraZeneca made an initial strategic investment in 2024, participated in a $30M Series A round led by Versant Ventures in May 2024 (alongside a separate $80M AstraZeneca-led investment), and ultimately completed the full acquisition of SixPeaks Bio in November 2025 for $170M upfront plus up to $130M in milestone payments, totaling up to $300M. Following the acquisition, SixPeaks Bio AG operates as a wholly-owned subsidiary of AstraZeneca and is no longer an independent company.
SixPeaks Bio firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- SixPeaks Bio
- Legal name
- SixPeaks Bio AG
- Website
- https://sixpeaksbio.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2022
- Operating status
- Acquired
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Basel-based biotech (founded 2022) developing ActRII/myostatin-targeting therapies to preserve muscle mass during obesity treatment; acquired by AstraZeneca in November 2025 for up to $300 million.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
SixPeaks Bio industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Obesity Therapeutics
- NAICS
- Pharmaceutical Preparation Manufacturing (325412), Biological Product (except Diagnostic) Manufacturing (325414), Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714)
- SIC
- Pharmaceutical Preparations (2834), Biological Products, (No Disgnostic Substances) (2836)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Cardiometabolic Pharmaceuticals (Cardiovascular/Diabetes/Obesity) (HLAIAAAE)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Drug Discovery (Target ID/Validation & Hit Discovery) (HLAIALAA), Lead Optimization & Preclinical Candidate Selection (HLAIALAB)
Keywords
Where SixPeaks Bio is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Basel
- HQ country
- Switzerland
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
SixPeaks Bio business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations
Revenue model
- Therapeutic Development and Acquisition: SixPeaks Bio operated as a pre-commercial biotech company developing obesity treatments. The company was acquired by AstraZeneca for $170M upfront with potential milestone payments up to $300M total, representing the primary exit and revenue event prior to commercialization.
Go-to-market motion2 records
SixPeaks Bio product offering
Product offeringCore offering
SixPeaks Bio developed a pipeline of investigational weight-management therapies that target activin receptors (ActRII) to preserve muscle mass during fat loss. The lead therapeutic program was designed to complement existing GLP-1 obesity drugs by addressing the muscle loss commonly associated with that drug class. The company was pre-commercial and exited via acquisition by AstraZeneca in November 2025.
Product overview
SixPeaks Bio was a single-product biotech company focused exclusively on developing weight-management therapies. The company's lead therapeutic program targeted activin receptors (ActRII blockade) to help preserve muscle mass during weight loss, differentiating from conventional GLP-1 treatments that can cause muscle loss alongside fat loss. The company's entire pipeline and technology was acquired by AstraZeneca in late 2025 as part of AstraZeneca's strategy to build an obesity treatment portfolio with muscle-preservation capabilities. SixPeaks Bio operated as an independent company prior to the acquisition and is no longer active as a standalone entity.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Weight-Management Therapies (ActRII-Targeting Pipeline)
Quantifiable outcome
- AstraZeneca acquisition valued at up to $300M demonstrates significant value capture from therapeutic approach
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use SixPeaks Bio
Customer profileSegments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
SixPeaks Bio technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
SixPeaks Bio partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- AstraZenecacoreAstraZeneca completed acquisition of Basel-based SixPeaks Bio AG, a company developing weight-management therapies. The total acquisition cost could reach up to USD 300 million, including milestone payments. SixPeaks Bio was focused on developing obesity medicines that preserve muscle mass during fat loss, targeting activin receptors. The acquisition was part of AstraZeneca's strategy to build its obesity pipeline focused on medical rather than aesthetic aspects.
- AstraZenecacoreAstraZeneca completed the acquisition of SixPeaks Bio, a biotech company focused on obesity treatments. The purchase price included an immediate payment of $170M and potential milestone payments. The deal aims to help AstraZeneca develop obesity medicines that preserve muscle mass during fat loss, targeting activin receptors.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
SixPeaks Bio competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Eli Lilly: Eli Lilly is the GLP-1 obesity market leader with Zepbound/Mounjaro (tirzepatide) and acquired Versanis Bio in 2023 to add ActRII-targeted bimagrumab to its obesity pipeline. Lilly is the most strategically comparable player because it pairs an incumbent GLP-1 franchise with a directly competitive muscle-preservation asset.
- Novo Nordisk: Novo Nordisk dominates the GLP-1 obesity market with Wegovy/Ozempic (semaglutide) and is actively investing in next-generation obesity therapies including combination strategies. It is a comparable broad incumbent shaping the same obesity market SixPeaks targeted.
- Amgen: Amgen developed AMG 133 (MariTide), an obesity candidate combining GLP-1 agonism with GIPR antagonism, and operates broadly in cardiometabolic disease. It is a broad incumbent in obesity therapeutics with overlapping cardiometabolic pipeline interests.
- Roche: Roche is a multinational pharmaceutical company with active investments in obesity and cardiometabolic disease, including diagnostic and therapeutic programs. It is a broad incumbent peer operating in the same cardiometabolic therapeutic category.
Direct peers
- Regeneron: Regeneron developed bimagrumab, an ActRII antibody for obesity-related body composition, and has partnered with Sanofi on the program. It is a direct mechanistic peer to SixPeaks, targeting the same activin receptor pathway to preserve lean mass during fat loss.
- Versanis Bio: Versanis Bio developed bimagrumab (ActRII antibody) for obesity and was acquired by Eli Lilly in 2023. It is a near-twin to SixPeaks in mechanism (ActRII blockade), indication (obesity/muscle preservation), and exit pathway (Big Pharma acquisition).
- Scholar Rock: Scholar Rock is developing apitegromab, a myostatin-activating antibody, with active programs exploring applications in obesity and muscle preservation. It is a direct peer in the muscle-preservation therapeutic space, leveraging the same myostatin/activin biology as SixPeaks.
Emerging players
- BioAge Labs: BioAge Labs is a clinical-stage biotech developing therapeutics for metabolic diseases including obesity, with programs targeting muscle and metabolic aging. It is an emerging player in the obesity/muscle-preservation space with comparable indication focus.
- Structure Therapeutics: Structure Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biotech developing oral GLP-1 receptor agonists and other obesity candidates. It is an emerging player in next-generation obesity therapies with comparable indication focus to SixPeaks.
Others
- AstraZeneca: AstraZeneca is the acquirer of SixPeaks Bio and is building a cardiometabolic/obesity franchise that includes SixPeaks' ActRII program. While not a peer in the competitive sense, AZ is the relevant strategic incumbent validating and continuing SixPeaks' therapeutic approach.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights5 records
Customer concentration
SixPeaks Bio social profiles
Digital presenceSixPeaks Bio financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
SixPeaks Bio leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
SixPeaks Bio funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds2 records
Investors2 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
SixPeaks Bio M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about SixPeaks Bio
What does SixPeaks Bio do?
SixPeaks Bio developed a pipeline of investigational weight-management therapies that target activin receptors (ActRII) to preserve muscle mass during fat loss. The lead therapeutic program was designed to complement existing GLP-1 obesity drugs by addressing the muscle loss commonly associated with that drug class. The company was pre-commercial and exited via acquisition by AstraZeneca in November 2025.
Is SixPeaks Bio a public or private company?
SixPeaks Bio is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently acquired.
When was SixPeaks Bio founded?
SixPeaks Bio was founded in 2022. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is SixPeaks Bio based?
SixPeaks Bio is headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, in the Europe region.
How does SixPeaks Bio make money?
One revenue line is on record: therapeutic Development and Acquisition.
Who are SixPeaks Bio's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Eli Lilly, Novo Nordisk, Amgen and Roche. Direct peers are Regeneron, Versanis Bio and Scholar Rock. Emerging players are BioAge Labs and Structure Therapeutics. AstraZeneca is listed as an others.
Does SixPeaks Bio have an API?
No public API is recorded for SixPeaks Bio.
What industry is SixPeaks Bio in?
SixPeaks Bio's product category is Obesity Therapeutics. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAIAAAE, Cardiometabolic Pharmaceuticals (Cardiovascular/Diabetes/Obesity), with a secondary code of HLAIALAA, Drug Discovery (Target ID/Validation & Hit Discovery). Its NAICS code is 325412 and its SIC code is 2834.