Sanofi Expands Immunology Portfolio with $1.9B Dren Bio Deal

Sanofi has made a significant move to bolster its position in the immunology market, announcing a $1.9 billion deal with Dren Bio for a promising bispecific antibody. The French pharmaceutical giant will pay $600 million upfront for DR-0201, a CD20-directed bispecific myeloid cell engager currently in phase 1 trials for B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

Strategic Acquisition Strengthens Sanofi's Immunology Pipeline

The agreement includes potential milestone payments of up to $1.3 billion, underscoring Sanofi's commitment to expanding its immunology portfolio. DR-0201 has shown promise in early clinical studies, demonstrating robust B-cell depletion that could potentially reset the adaptive immune system in patients with refractory B-cell mediated autoimmune diseases.

Dr. Houman Ashrafian, Sanofi's head of R&D, emphasized the strategic importance of the acquisition, stating, "Deep B-cell depletion is at the frontier of treating autoimmune diseases and using the myeloid cell engager DR-0201 has the potential to elevate the treatment effect for patients, in particular patients refractory to existing treatments."

Dren Bio's Technology and Future Plans

Dren Bio, a privately-owned biotech company, will continue to operate independently following the deal. The company has a history of successful partnerships, having previously signed myeloid engager-focused agreements with Novartis and Pfizer.

In addition to DR-0201, Dren Bio is developing DR-01, an antibody designed to selectively deplete cytotoxic cells such as autoreactive CD8 T cells. This candidate is currently undergoing a phase 2 study in patients with cytotoxic lymphomas and various autoimmune indications.

Sanofi's Immunology Ambitions

This acquisition aligns with Sanofi's stated goal of becoming a leader in immunology. The company, which co-markets the anti-inflammatory blockbuster Dupixent with Regeneron, has been undergoing a major pipeline restructuring to focus on immunoscience.

Nenad Tomasevic, CEO and co-founder of Dren Bio, expressed confidence in the partnership, noting that Sanofi, as "a leader in immunology," is "ideally positioned to unlock the power of deep B-cell depletion and immune reset for autoimmune patients with this novel myeloid cell engager."

As Sanofi continues to build its immunology portfolio, this latest deal represents a significant step towards its ambition of becoming what it calls an "immunology powerhouse" in the pharmaceutical industry.