(March 20): Sanofi is buying an immunology drug from Dren Bio, Inc for up to US$1.9 billion (RM8.42 billion), in a deal it said will help it become a leader in the treatment of diseases of the immune system.
 
The French pharmaceutical company will acquire a bispecific antibody that is currently being tested in non-Hodgkin lymphoma, which is a form of cancer that develops in the lymphatic system — a network of vessels and glands spread throughout the body. 

Shares of Sanofi were largely unchanged in early trading in Paris on Thursday. The stock is up 23% in the 12 months through Wednesday’s close. 

The drug works by targeting the depletion of B-cells, a type of white blood cell. Usually B-cells usually produce antibodies to fight off infections, but in autoimmune disease they target healthy tissue as well. 

“Deep B-cell depletion is the frontier of treating autoimmune diseases,” said Houman Ashrafian, Sanofi’s head of research and development in a statement. 

Sanofi is focused on boosting its drug development pipeline and is hoping to produce more blockbusters like asthma treatment Dupixent. The company is pushing a dozen potential top-selling medicines through costly clinical trials. 

Under the terms of the deal, Sanofi will pay US$600 million upfront, with potentially a further US$1.3 billion due if certain development and launch milestones are reached. California-based Dren Bio will continue to operate independently. The companies expect the deal to close during the second quarter of this year, with Sanofi financing it with its cash resources. 

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