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Sanofi Inks $3.4B Pharma Acquisition Deal with Principia Biopharma
The pharma acquisition deal will strengthen Sanofi’s research and development efforts for autoimmune and allergic diseases, as well as provide more control of BTK inhibitors.
Sanofi recently announced that it will acquire biopharmaceutical company, Principia Biopharma Inc, in a pharma acquisition deal of $100 per share in cash.
Principia Biopharma focuses on developing treatments for immune-mediated diseases. Under the agreement, Sanofi will acquire all shares of the company, which represents an aggregate equity value of nearly $3.68 billion.
The pharma acquisition deal will have a total enterprise value of approximately $3.36 billion, Sanofi said.
“This acquisition advances our ongoing R&D transformation to accelerate development of the most promising medicines that will address significant patient needs,” Paul Hudson, Sanofi’s CEO, said in the announcement.
“The addition of multiple BTK inhibitors to our pipeline demonstrates our commitment to strategic product acquisitions in our priority therapeutic areas. Full ownership of our brain-penetrant BTK inhibitor ‘168 removes complexities for this priority development program and simplifies future commercialization.”
Sanofi will leverage Principia’s Bruton tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitors to accelerate and build a portfolio of next generation treatments for autoimmune diseases.
BTK is present in the signaling pathways of key innate and adaptive cell types of the immune system. Blocking these signaling processes can help stop inflammation and tissue destruction related to autoimmune diseases.
Sanofi highlighted how BTK inhibitor ‘168 reduced Gd-enhancing T1 hyperintense lesions by 85 percent compared to placebo in a Phase 2b study involving patients with multiple sclerosis.
Meanwhile, BTK inhibitor, rilzabrutinib, is currently being evaluated in a Phase 3 program for patients with moderate to severe pemphigus, the company stated in the announcement.
A Phase 3 program for immune thrombocytopenia is expected to be initiated by the end of 2020. And BTK inhibitor, PRN473 Topical, is in Phase 1 trials and being developed for immune-mediated diseases that could benefit from localized application to the skin.
“The Phase 2b data in relapsing multiple sclerosis showed the strong potential of ‘168 to address disability and disease progression, and triggered the start of Phase 3 studies across the full spectrum of MS,” said John Reed, MD, PhD, global head of research & development at Sanofi.
“Through this acquisition, we will be able to expand and accelerate development of BTK inhibitors across multiple indications. Both ‘168 and rilzabrutinib, have ‘pipeline in a product’ potential, and we look forward to unlocking their full treatment benefits across an array of diseases.”
BTK inhibitors are vital in treating many chronic diseases. Back in June, AstraZeneca announced that its drug, Calquence, a BTK inhibitor, reduced inflammation and improved clinical response outcomes in patients with severe COVID-19.
Researchers administered the drug in patients with severe respiratory illness caused but SARS-CoV-2 because evidence suggested that dysregulated BTK-dependent lung macrophage signaling mediates cytokine storm and could play a role in COVID-19 pneumonia.
The Principia BTK inhibitor is based on its Tailored Covalency platform that has successfully uncovered potential best-in-class clinical candidates.
The platform allows the design of both reversible covalent and irreversible covalent small molecule inhibitors that are more selective with less off-target effects, Sanofi said.
According to the National Cancer Institute, off-target effects can occur when a drug binds to targets other than those for which the drug was meant to bind. This can cause side effects that could be harmful to patients.
“Principia’s successful design and development of a whole portfolio of BTK inhibitors for immunology is aimed to transform the treatment for patients with immune-mediated diseases,” said Martin Babler, president and CEO at Principia Biopharma.
“By combining with Sanofi, we will bring significant resources to expand and accelerate the potential benefits of these therapies. The benefit of developing several BTK inhibitors will allow us to target specific organ systems for optimal patient benefit. The merger will provide global resources to get these novel therapies to patients faster.”
