Sanofi Buys UK Biotech Kymab
French pharma Sanofi is once again boosting its immunotherapy capabilities, this time with the acquisition of UK biotech Kymab. The company will make an upfront payment of about $1.1 billion plus up to $350 million upon Kymab achieving certain milestones.
The Cambridge, UK-based firm, originally spun out of the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, is focused on developing monoclonal antibodies to treat immune and inflammatory diseases and cancer.
Expected to close in the first half of 2021, the deal gives Sanofi full global rights to Kymab’s monoclonal antibody KY1005, a potential treatment for immune-related diseases and inflammatory disorders. The therapy met both primary endpoints last August in a Phase 2a clinical trial on atopic dermatitis, a form of eczema.
“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,” said Sanofi CEO Paul Hudson.
Kymab’s pipeline also includes KY1044, a monoclonal antibody cancer treatment, which is in early Phase1/2 development.
Other Sanofi deals in the immunotherapy space include the purchase of Dutch biotech Kiadis for €308 million last November and the takeovers of US-based Principia Biopharma and Synthorx in September and January 2020, respectively.
Author: Elaine Burridge, Freelance Journalist
