Lexeo Therapeutics to Acquire Mantle Therapeutics for Up to $21.3 Million; Enters Three Research Collaborations

08:12 AM EDT, 09/22/2026 (MT Newswires) -- Lexeo Therapeutics (LXEO) has agreed to acquire Mantle Therapeutics for up to $21.3 million and has entered into three research collaborations focused on Friedreich ataxia, a rare genetic neurodegenerative disease, the company said Tuesday. Lexeo will pay Mantle shareholders $8.3 million upfront in cash and equity and up to $13 million in milestone payments, it said. The acquisition will add clinical-stage oral therapy LX3010 and pre-clinical candidates LX3030, LX3050 and LX3070 for the potential treatment of Friedreich ataxia to Lexeo's portfolio, the company said. The transaction is expected to close in Q3, subject to customary closing conditions. Meanwhile, Lexeo will collaborate with Weill Cornell Medicine, Vivet Therapeutics and Apertura Gene Therapy to evaluate sequential dosing of frataxin gene therapy, it added. Shares of Lexeo were 5.3% higher in Tuesday premarket activity.