Swiss Biotech Windward Files for US IPO

Swiss biotech Windward Bio Group filed for a Nasdaq IPO under the proposed ticker WWB, seeking funds to advance clinical trials; one report said the company plans to raise up to $100 million, though final offering terms have not been disclosed. Its lead candidate, WIN378, is being tested for severe asthma and COPD and targets TSLP, with a potential twice-yearly dosing schedule; its early-stage WIN027 targets TSLP and IL-13 and is being developed for inflammatory conditions including atopic dermatitis. The company says its candidates could require less frequent dosing, but those potential advantages have not been established in pivotal trials. Windward has secured up to $365 million from investors including Novo Holdings, OrbiMed, Omega Funds and Blue Owl-related funds, which hold pre-IPO stakes. The listing comes amid a busy biotech IPO market, where Windward’s funding and investor backing may test demand for clinical-stage drug developers.