LONDON (ShareCast) - (Sharecast News) - French pharma giant Sanofi announced on Tuesday that it is to purchase London-based respiratory virus vaccine developer Vicebio for up to $1.6bn.
The deal, which adds an early-stage combination vaccine candidate for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and human metapneumovirus (hMPV) to Sanofi's pipeline, is said to complement its existing position in the respiratory vaccines space where the company is present in flu and RSV prevention.

"It allows Sanofi to offer increased physician and patient choice in RSV and hMPV by adding a non-mRNA vaccine to its pipeline," the French firm said in a statement.

The acquisition also expands Sanofi's capabilities in vaccine design and development with Vicebio's 'Molecular Clamp' - a new technology that stabilises viral proteins in their native shape, enabling the immune system to recognise and respond to them more effectively, the company said.

Sanofi is paying $1.15bn upfront to buy Vicebio's share capital, with potential milestone payments of up to $450m dependent on development and regulatory achievements.

"Vicebio's 'Molecular Clamp' technology introduces a purposefully simple but thoughtful approach to further improve vaccine designs at a time when respiratory viral infections continue to impact millions globally," said Jean-François Toussaint, the head of Sanofi's research and development vaccines division.

"This acquisition furthers Sanofi's dedication to vaccine innovation with the potential to develop next-generation combination vaccines that could provide protection to older adults against multiple respiratory viruses with a single immunisation."

Sanofi shares were more or less flat at €82.32 by 1039 in Paris.

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