THIS ANNOUNCEMENT AND THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN IT (THE "ANNOUNCEMENT") IS RESTRICTED AND IS NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN OR INTO THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AUSTRALIA, HONG KONG, SINGAPORE, CANADA, JAPAN, THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA OR ANY OTHER JURISDICTION WHERE TO DO SO WOULD CONSTITUTE A BREACH OF THE RELEVANT SECURITIES LAWS OF SUCH JURISDICTION.
THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS FOR INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY AND DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A PROSPECTUS OR OFFERING MEMORANDUM OR CONTAIN ANY INVITATION, SOLICITATION, RECOMMENDATION, OFFER OR ADVICE TO ANY PERSON TO SUBSCRIBE FOR, OTHERWISE ACQUIRE OR DISPOSE OF ANY SECURITIES OF SAREUM HOLDINGS PLC OR ANY OTHER ENTITY IN ANY JURISDICTION. NEITHER THIS ANNOUNCEMENT NOR THE FACT OF ITS DISTRIBUTION, SHALL FORM THE BASIS OF, OR BE RELIED ON IN CONNECTION WITH ANY INVESTMENT IN RESPECT OF SAREUM HOLDINGS PLC AND SHOULD NOT BE CONSIDERED AS A RECOMMENDATION THAT ANY INVESTOR SHOULD SUBSCRIBE FOR OR PURCHASE ANY SUCH SECURITIES.
This Announcement contains inside information for the purposes of the UK version of the Market Abuse Regulation (EU) No 596/2014 as it forms part of United Kingdom domestic law by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 as amended by the European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Act 2020 ("UK MAR"). In addition, market soundings (as defined in UK MAR) were taken in respect of certain of the matters contained in this Announcement, with the result that certain persons became aware of such inside information, as permitted by UK MAR. Upon the publication of this Announcement, this inside information is now considered to be in the public domain and such persons shall therefore cease to be in possession of inside information. The person responsible for arranging the release of this Announcement on behalf of the Company is Dr Stephen Parker, Executive Chairman.
Sareum Holdings plc
(“Sareum” or the “Company”)
Subscription to raise approximately £3.2 million, intention to launch WRAP Retail Offer and restoration of trading on AIM
Cambridge, UK, 26th October 2026 - Sareum Holdings plc (AIM: SAR), a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing next-generation kinase inhibitors for autoimmune disease and cancer, is pleased to announce that, further to its announcement of 8 October 2026, it has conditionally raised approximately £3.2 million (before expenses) through a subscription for 22,807,143 new ordinary shares of 1.25 pence each in the capital of the Company (“Ordinary Shares”) at a price of 14 pence per new Ordinary Share (the "Issue Price"), representing a discount of approximately 49 per cent. to the closing mid-market price of 27.5 pence per Ordinary Share on 7 October 2026, being the last business day before trading in the Company’s Ordinary Shares on AIM was paused (the "Subscription").
Background to the Subscription and Use of Proceeds
The Phase 1 results achieved for Sareum’s lead programme SDC-1801, a selective oral TYK2/JAK1 inhibitor for autoimmune diseases, confirmed that the molecule was generally well tolerated and demonstrated PK/PD characteristics consistent with once‑daily dosing. The TYK2/JAK1 field has advanced over the time that the Company has been developing SDC-1801, with brepocitinib reporting positive Phase 3 data in dermatomyositis during the year and receiving FDA approval in August 2026 as Lisraya, the first FDA-approved oral treatment for the condition.
Sareum’s goal is now to prepare SDC-1801 for Phase 2 clinical development, in line with our strategy of completing early development and out-licensing for late-stage development and commercialisation. The 16-week toxicology studies we have been conducting are drawing to their conclusion, and the ongoing CMC and formulation optimisation will position the programme well for the next stage of clinical development.
Following the conclusion of our collaboration with Receptor.AI to identify Blood-Brain Barrier penetrant, isoform-selective TYK2/JAK1 inhibitors for neuro-inflammatory indications, Sareum identified a first batch of compounds which have been synthesised and undergone early-stage testing in biochemical and ADME assays.
The net proceeds of the Subscription are intended to be used by the Company to progress SDC-1801 and the neuroscience programme, and, together with the receipt of anticipated R&D tax credits, for general working capital purposes. The Board expects to be able to provide further details of the expected R&D Tax Credits in the Final Results for the period to 30th June 2026, to be released by the end of October 2026.
Director Participation
The Directors are unable to participate in the Subscription, as they are in a closed period under UK MAR ahead of the publication of the Company’s audited results for the year ended 30th June 2026 (the “Final Results”). The Final Results are in line with management’s expectations and are expected to be published on or around 30 October 2026. Certain Directors have indicated their willingness to participate in a subscription, up to an aggregate amount of approximately £40,000, on the same terms as the Subscription following publication of the Final Results, and any participation would be on terms announced at the time.
Intention to launch WRAP Retail Offer
The Company intends to launch the WRAP Retail Offer following this announcement, to give existing shareholders the opportunity to subscribe for new Ordinary Shares at the Issue Price to raise up to £100,000 (before expenses). Any proceeds of the WRAP Retail Offer will be used in the same way as the proceeds of the Subscription. The WRAP Retail Offer will be launched by way of a separate announcement setting out its terms and conditions and expected timetable. The Subscription is not conditional on the WRAP Retail Offer. Shares issued under the WRAP Retail Offer will not carry Warrants.
Admission and Total Voting Rights
The Subscription is conditional only on admission of the Subscription Shares to trading on AIM (“Admission”) becoming effective by 8.00 a.m. on or around 29th October 2026 (or such later date as the Company and the subscribers may agree, being not later than 31st October 2026).
Application will be made for the Subscription Shares to be admitted to trading on AIM and dealing is expected to commence at 8.00 a.m. on 29th October 2026. The Subscription Shares will be issued credited as fully paid and will rank pari passu in all respects with the existing Ordinary Shares. They will be allotted pursuant to the authorities granted to the Directors at the Company’s annual general meeting held on 9 December 2025. The Warrants will not be admitted to trading on AIM or any other market. Following Admission (and before the issue of any shares under the WRAP Retail Offer), the Company’s issued share capital will consist of 162,533,325 Ordinary Shares, each with one voting right, and no Ordinary Shares are held in treasury. This figure may be used by shareholders as the denominator for the calculations by which they will determine whether they are required to notify their interest in, or a change to their interest in, the Company under the Financial Conduct Authority’s Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules. A further announcement will be made on the result of the WRAP Retail Offer.
Capital Access Window and restoration of trading
On 8 October 2026 the Company entered a Capital Access Window in connection with a proposed equity fundraise, and trading in its Ordinary Shares on AIM was paused from 7.30 a.m. that day. This announcement sets out the result of that fundraise, which has completed subject only to Admission, and accordingly the Capital Access Window has now closed. Trading in the Company’s Ordinary Shares on AIM is expected to be restored at 7.30 a.m. today, 26th October 2026.
-Ends-
For Further Information:
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Sareum Holdings plc Stephen Parker, Executive Chairman |
01223 497700 ir@sareum.co.uk |
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Strand Hanson Limited (Nominated Adviser) James Dance / James Bellman
Singer Capital Markets (Joint Corporate Broker) Russell Cook/ Patrick Weaver
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020 7409 3494
020 7496 3000
|
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Oberon Capital (Joint Corporate Broker) Mike Seabrook / Nick Lovering
|
020 3179 5300 |
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Marex Financial Angelo Sofocleous / Matt Bailey
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020 7655 6000 |
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ICR Healthcare (Financial PR) Jessica Hodgson / Lisa Lam / Tom Daniel |
020 3709 5700 |
About Sareum
Sareum (AIM: SAR) is a biotechnology company developing next generation kinase inhibitors for autoimmune disease and cancer.
The Company is focused on developing next generation small molecules which modify the activity of the JAK kinase family and have best-in-class potential. Its lead candidate, SDC-1801, simultaneously inhibits TYK2 and JAK1. SDC-1801 is a potential treatment for a range of autoimmune diseases, with a planned initial focus on psoriasis.
Sareum is also developing SDC-1802, a TYK2/JAK1 inhibitor with a potential application for certain haematological cancers and has recently initiated a preclinical programme to develop TYK2/JAK1 inhibitors for neuroinflammatory diseases such as multiple sclerosis and Parkinson's disease
The Company holds the license for SRA737, a clinical-stage Checkpoint kinase 1 inhibitor that targets cancer cell replication and DNA damage repair mechanisms.
Sareum Holdings plc is based in Cambridge, UK, and is quoted on the AIM market of the London Stock Exchange, trading under the ticker SAR. For further information, please visit the Company’s website at www.sareum.com