Sanofi to Acquire Kymab for $1.4 Billion

Sanofi announced on Jan. 11, 2021 that it is acquiring Kymab, a UK-based clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company, for a total of $1.4 billion.

Under the terms of the agreement, Sanofi will provide an upfront payment of $1.1 billion and will provide an additional $350 million if certain milestones are achieved, Sanofi said in a company press release.

The acquisition will give Sanofi full global rights to KY1005, Kymab’s fully human monoclonal antibody that binds to OX40-Ligand, giving it the potential to treat a variety of immune-mediated diseases and inflammatory disorders, according to the press release.

“The Kymab acquisition adds KY1005 to our dynamic pipeline, a potential first-in-class treatment for a range of immune and inflammatory diseases. The novel mechanism of action may provide treatment for patients with suboptimal responses to available therapies,” said Paul Hudson, Sanofi CEO, in the press release. “We understand from our ongoing work in debilitating immunological diseases how critical it is to find the right treatment for each patient. We look forward to rapidly developing this investigational medicine.”

“The agreement is a testament to the commitment, drive, and expertise of the entire Kymab team and we are pleased to receive this endorsement from Sanofi,” added Simon Sturge, CEO, Kymab, in the press release. “With its significant global resources, we believe Sanofi is the perfect partner to progress Kymab’s pipeline of products and the merger will expedite the time it takes for our novel therapies to get to patients.”

Source: Sanofi