Ablynx, Sanofi in multimillion euros deal for treating inflammatory disease

Ablynx and Sanofi have made a deal for research collaboration and global exclusive licensing agreement related to Nanobody-based therapeutics for the treatment of various immune-mediated inflammatory diseases.

As the companies said on Thursday, the deal will enable Sanofi to access to certain Ablynx’s Nanobodies together with the Ablynx`s scientists and proprietary Nanobody platform. According to the agreement, Sanofi gets exclusive global rights to certain multi-specific Nanobodies against selected targets, with options for similar rights to additional targets, for a total of eight potential Nanobody product candidates.

The financial terms include an upfront payment of €23 million to Ablynx, comprised of license and option fees. In addition, Ablynx will receive research funding, estimated to amount to €8 million for the initially selected targets, the companies said.

Furthermore, upon exercise of options to additional targets, Sanofi will pay Ablynx further option exercise fees and research funding. Sanofi will be responsible for the development, manufacturing and commercialisation of any products resulting from this agreement. Ablynx will get to receive development, regulatory and commercial milestone payments of up to €2.4 billion plus tiered royalties up to low double digits on the net sales of any products originating from the collaboration.

Dr Edwin Moses, CEO of Ablynx, said that the deal is a unique opportunity for for his company to work with a world-leader like Sanofi in the development of a new generation of therapeutics for the treatment of immune-mediated inflammatory diseases. “We look forward to exploring the different Nanobody target combinations as new and novel therapeutic options for patients suffering from a range of inflammatory diseases,” Moses said.

Sanofi`s Global Head of Immunology Therapeutic Research Area and Chief Scientific Officer, North America, Frank Nestle, noted that the collaboration is the latest example of Sanofi`s strategic commitment to expand its drug discovery pipeline in immunology at a time when the company is launching new treatments for atopic dermatitis and rheumatoid arthritis.

“We are particularly excited by the Ablynx technology as a leading biologics platform, enabling the development of transformative multi-targeting treatment approaches. Through external partnerships like these, combined with our internal R&D expertise, we aim to transform the treatment landscape for patients living with autoimmune and inflammatory conditions,” said Nestle.