Solvonis Therapeutics PLC (LSE:SVNS) this week reported full-year 2025 results, with CEO Anthony Tennyson outlining what he described as a transformational period driven by strategic repositioning and pipeline expansion.
Tennyson said the company has refocused its business as a CNS-focused biotech targeting high-burden conditions across addiction and psychiatry, areas where he noted significant unmet medical need. He added that the acquisition of Awakn Life Sciences has provided Solvonis with a balanced portfolio spanning late-stage, mid-stage and preclinical assets, offering “near, medium, and long-term value creation opportunities”.
A key strategic shift highlighted in the update is the decision to advance its lead programme, SVN-001, through Phase 3 rather than pursuing an earlier licensing deal. Tennyson explained that, following discussions with potential partners and analysis of industry trends, the board concluded that “the potential for shareholder value creation is greater at the end of that phase three trial than it would be mid phase three trial”.
Here, we take a closer look at what was said when the Solvonis boss joined the Proactive studio.
Proactive: Anthony, very good to speak with you. Full year 2025 looks like a transformational year for Solvonis. What's fundamentally changed in the business over the last 12 months?
Anthony Tennyson: Good to talk to you again, Stephen, and good to talk to your audience. Agreed. 2025 was a transformational year for the business. I think three key things to point out… first was our repositioning of the business as a dedicated biotech focused on CNS disorders… specifically across addiction and psychiatric indications… where there are large unaddressed markets.
Second… was the acquisition of Awakn Life Sciences… which provides us with a balanced portfolio… across late, mid clinical stage and preclinical discovery… delivering near, medium, and long-term value creation opportunities.
Thirdly… was the rebranding to Solvonis Therapeutics and establishing our core purpose… to provide hope… and opportunity for material value creation for shareholders.
Proactive: The big strategic takeaway is the shift in approach to SVN-001. Why has the Board concluded greater value may be created by taking the programme through Phase 3?
Anthony Tennyson: We had deep conversations with potential pharmaceutical partners… and noted a changing backdrop… where many companies are taking assets through Phase 3. The board decided that “the potential for shareholder value creation is greater at the end of that phase three trial than it would be mid phase three trial”… so we are progressing to the end of Phase 3.
Proactive: For investors less familiar with SVN-001, what makes this asset differentiated?
Anthony Tennyson: There has been little innovation in severe alcohol use disorder… SVN-001 has the potential to be a new standard of care addressing both physical and psychosocial elements. In Phase 2, patients were abstinent 2% of the time before treatment… and achieved 86% sobriety in the six months post-treatment.
Proactive: How has the US backdrop influenced strategy?
Anthony Tennyson: We’ve seen a change in attitude… regulatory support and strong market caps among peers… creating tailwinds. We are actively promoting our story to US institutional investors.
Proactive: What should investors expect over the next 12–18 months?
Anthony Tennyson: Continued progress across the pipeline… including SVN-001 recruitment… SVN-002 development and FDA bridging work… and preclinical progress with SVN-015 in partnership with NIDA.