Sanofi is shelling out $1.15 billion to amass Vicebio, a startup with a pipeline of respiratory vaccine candidates and a platform know-how that may assist the pharmaceutical big’s ambitions to develop its portfolio with vaccines able to addressing two or extra pathogens with a single shot.
Past the upfront cost, the deal introduced Tuesday places Vicebio in line to obtain as much as $450 million extra tied to the achievement of improvement and regulatory milestones that weren’t specified. Probably the most superior Vicebio program, VXB-241, is a bivalent vaccine for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and human metapneumovirus (hMPV) in Part 1 improvement.
The present strategy to vaccination in opposition to respiratory ailments is a single shot for every pathogen. As extra vaccines turn out to be accessible for extra pathogens, the rising variety of photographs turns into formidable to sufferers. London-based Vicebio is creating multivalent vaccines that might pose much less of a burden. Apart from VXB-241, which is being examined in in older adults, the Vicebio pipeline additionally consists of VXB-251, which is in preclinical improvement for addressing RSV, hMPV, and parainfluenza virus kind 3 (PIV3).
Like different proteins, viral antigens don’t have a set form. This instability makes it tough to elicit a powerful immune response. Vicebio’s know-how, known as Molecular Clamp, stabilizes viral proteins within the optimum form for the immune system to acknowledge them. Sanofi stated it sees the know-how as a solution to allow faster improvement of absolutely liquid mixture vaccines that may be saved at normal refrigeration temperatures. This functionality eliminates the necessity for freezing or freeze-drying vaccines, which simplifies vaccine manufacturing and distribution. Additionally, vaccines made with this know-how will also be provided in prefilled syringes.
“This acquisition furthers Sanofi’s dedication to vaccine innovation with the potential to develop next-generation mixture vaccines that might present safety to older adults in opposition to a number of respiratory viruses with a single immunization,” Jean-François Toussaint, world head of analysis and improvement vaccines at Sanofi, stated in a ready assertion.
Molecular Clamp relies on analysis from The College of Queensland in Australia. Medicxi licensed rights to the know-how and supplied the founding funding for Vicebio. The startup final raised cash in 2024, a $100 million Collection B financing to assist Part 1 testing of VXB-241 for RSV and hMPV. On the time, Vicebio stated preliminary knowledge had been anticipated in mid-2025. To date, no outcomes have been launched.
Sanofi is already effectively established in in influenza vaccines. It’s attempting to construct on that with next-generation flu photographs based mostly on messenger RNA know-how from its $3.2 billion Translate Bio acquisition in 2021. In RSV, Sanofi is represented by Beyfortus, an FDA-approved antibody drug that works like a vaccine, offering infants and younger youngsters safety from the respiratory pathogen.
The pharma big is pursuing different respiratory pathogens with vaccines based mostly on its mRNA platform. For RSV, SP0125, is at the moment in Part 2 testing in older adults. SP0256, a bivalent vaccine for RSV and hMPV, is at the moment in Part 1/2 testing. Additionally in early medical improvement is SP0291, an mRNA vaccine for RSV, hMPV, and PIV3. Sanofi stated Vicebio’s vaccines complement its pipeline, doubtlessly enabling the corporate to supply physicians and sufferers a non-mRNA vaccine choice.
In a analysis be aware, Leerink Companions stated the Vicebio acquisition is proof of Sanofi’s enthusiasm for creating protein-based flu vaccines, following its 2024 alliance with Novavax enabling the businesses to develop Covid-19/flu vaccine mixtures. The agency additionally sees the deal as an indication of accelerating M&A exercise sector-wide.
The Vicebio acquisition is anticipated to shut within the fourth quarter of this yr, pending buyer closing situations, together with the sign-off from regulators. Sanofi’s different enterprise offers this yr embrace the $9.5 billion acquisition of immunology medicine developer Blueprint Medicines, which closed final week. Earlier this yr, Sanofi paid $470 million to purchase Vigil Neurosciences in addition to $600 million for an early-stage autoimmune illness drug from Dren Bio.
Public area picture by the CDC
