Mergers & AcquisitionsMedium16 September 2026
2 min read

Xenetic Biosciences Signs Definitive Merger Agreement with Santersus AG

Key Facts

1Xenetic Biosciences entered into a definitive share exchange agreement to acquire all outstanding share capital of Santersus AG in an all-stock transaction.
2The combined company is expected to trade on the Nasdaq Capital Market as Santersus Bio, Inc. under the new ticker symbol SNTS.
3The deal combines Santersus' NucleoCapture technology with Xenetic's DNase technology to target neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs).

In a move reflecting the accelerating consolidation within the biotech sector to advance next-generation therapeutics, Xenetic Biosciences has entered into a definitive share exchange agreement to acquire Santersus AG. According to reports, the all-stock transaction will result in a combined entity expected to trade on the Nasdaq Capital Market as Santersus Bio, Inc. under the new ticker symbol SNTS. The deal is designed to combine Santersus' NucleoCapture technology with Xenetic's DNase technology to specifically target neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs).

The merger integrates complementary approaches—enzymatic degradation and physical removal—to address unmet needs in critical care, autoimmune diseases, and oncology, leveraging existing FDA Breakthrough Device Designations. This strategic combination aims to establish a clinical-stage leader focused on NET-targeting therapeutics. Per market dynamics, the transaction aligns with a broader industry trend of merging proprietary platforms to streamline clinical development and enhance patent portfolios.

Regarding market performance, XBIO shares closed at $4.27 on September 15, 2026, having traded between a day low of $4.09 and a high of $4.33 according to market data. Investors are now looking toward the formal completion of the share exchange and the ticker transition to SNTS as the primary forward catalysts. Additionally, broader market sentiment may be influenced by upcoming US economic data, including Jobless Claims and Producer Price Index (PPI) releases, which often impact risk appetite for micro-cap biotech instruments.