Sanofi to buy Vicebio for up to US$1.6 billion in vaccine push
The French drugmaker will pay US$1.15 billion upfront with a commitment for potential milestones worth as much as US$450 million, it said in a statement on Tuesday (Jul 22).
Chief executive officer Paul Hudson is looking for innovation that fits with Sanofi's existing offerings, and Vicebio's experimental shots are intended to prevent several respiratory illnesses including RSV, the target of its new therapy Beyfortus.
The deal is expected to close in the fourth quarter, and won't have a significant impact on Sanofi's financial guidance for the year, the company said.
The transaction helps Sanofi get closer to making next-generation vaccines that offer protection against multiple respiratory viruses in a single shot that isn't mRNA – the technology behind the blockbuster Covid-19 immunisations.
Vicebio's technology allows quicker development of liquid combination vaccines that can be stored at fridge temperatures, simplifying manufacturing and distribution by eliminating the need for freezing. The company is working on a single shot against RSV and human metapneumovirus, or hMPV, which is in an exploratory early-stage study.
Like several rivals, Sanofi is focusing on cutting-edge therapies while divesting older medicines and its consumer-health division. BLOOMBERG
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