Sanofi will buy Belgian Nanobody technology specialist Ablynx for €3.9 billion, it was announced Monday by both companies.
This is second shopping for Sanofi, as it has bought an American blood disorders specialist, Bioverativ for $11,6 billion last week. The last week purchase was smudged by reports that the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission filed a lawsuit against certain traders in Bioverativ, for engaging in shady trading, worth about $4.9 million.
Commenting the Sanofi’s purchase of Ablynx, the Chief Executive Officer of Sanofi, Olivier Brandicourt said: “With Ablynx, we continue to advance the strategic transformation of our Research and Development, expanding our late-stage pipeline and strengthening our platform for growth in rare blood disorders. This acquisition builds on a successful existing partnership. We are also pleased to reaffirm our commitment to Belgium, where we have invested significantly over the years in our state-of-the-art biologics manufacturing facility in Geel. We intend to maintain and support the Ablynx science center in Ghent.”
Ablynx’s Chief Executive Officer Edwin Moses commented: “Since our founding in 2001, our team has been focused on unlocking the power of our Nanobody technology for patients. The results of our work are validated by clinical data. As we look ahead, we believe Sanofi’s global infrastructure, commitment to innovation and commercial capabilities will accelerate our ability to deliver our pipeline. Our Board of Directors feels strongly that this transaction represents compelling value for shareholders and maximizes the potential of our pipeline to the benefit of all stakeholders.”
Both companies shared the same press release.