Sanofi, Exscientia to Research, Develop Small Molecule Drugs

Sanofi and Exscientia recently entered into a research collaboration and license agreement to develop 15 novel small molecule drug candidates across oncology and immunology.

The companies will leverage Exscientia’s AI-driven platform utilizing patient samples. The platform enables a “patient-first” approach through integrating primary human tissue samples into easy target and drug discovery research.

Exscientia scientists will integrate patient, disease, and clinically relevant data into decisions on potential new medicine candidates early in the drug creation process.

Additionally, the company will lead small molecule drug design and lead optimization activities up to development candidate nominations. Sanofi will be responsible for preclinical and clinical development, manufacturing, and commercialization.

“We look forward to deepening our work with Exscientia, a leader in leveraging AI to modernize all aspects of drug discovery and development,” Frank Nestle, global head of research and chief scientific officer at Sanofi, said in the announcement.

“Application of sophisticated AI and machine learning methods will not only shorten drug discovery timelines, but will also help to design higher quality and better targeted medicines for patients,” Nestle continued.

Exscientia and Sanofi first partnered in 2016. And in 2019, Sanofi in-licensed Exscientia’s novel bispecific small molecule candidate, which that targets two distinct targets in inflammation and immunology.

Throughout their most recent research collaboration, the companies will identify and select target projects for various chronic diseases and diseases with unmet medical needs. 

Under the terms of the agreement, Sanofi will provide Exscientia with an upfront cash payment of $100 million. Exscientia will also be eligible to receive future research, translational, clinical development, regulatory, and commercial milestone payments of up to $5.2 billion.

And if Sanofi commercializes a therapeutic from the collaboration, Exscientia will also be eligible to receive tiered royalties on product sales.

“When you consider the change this represents – testing candidates against actual human tissue years before a clinical trial – it’s transformative,” said Andrew Hopkins, PhD, CEO and founder of Exscientia.