Pharma Investment Round-up – 10/09/2021

This week in pharmaceutical investments, Sanofi seals the deal to expand its transplant medicine portfiolio with the proposed acqusition of Kadmon Pharmaceutical for $1.9bn; Hybrigienics makes a second attempt to approach Bone Therapeutics for a merger of the two companies, both of which dedicate substantial focus in developing cell and gene therapies.   

Biopharma Hybrigenics Makes Another Bid to Acquire Bone Therapeutics 

In a press release at the end of August 2021, French-based Hybrigenics announced plans to discuss a potential merger with Bone Therapeutics. Bone therapeutics is a leading biotech company, focusing on developing innovations to address unmet critical needs in orthopedics and other diseases. 

This is not the first time a merger has been broached with the Belgian company, as it came up again at the start of 2020. However, discussions ended promptly, with no further talk about a possible merger. 

At the end of August this year, Hybrigenics decided to approach the company once again for a possible merger. In a recent news article, it was suggested that Hybrigenics were “convinced that a merger of certain activities of the two companies would create additional value for the shareholders of Hybrigenics and Bone Therapeutics”.

On September 7 2021, Bone Therapeutics consequently launched a press release in response to Hybrigenics proposition, stating that “similar to other strategic opportunities that are presented to Bone Therapeutics from time to time, the opportunity for starting discussions with Hybrigenics will be carefully evaluated by the board of directors of Bone Therapeutics, taking into account the interests of its shareholders and other stakeholders”. 

The current status of the merger is unknown, although the collaboration could accelerate the development of a number of cell therapies, which both companies are working on. Stem cell therapy in particular is a key area for both, while Bone Therapeutics is also working on gene therapies. 

Sanofi Bolsters It’s Transplant Medicines With Kadmon Acquisition Worth $1.9bn

On Wednesday September 8 2021, French drug pharma company Sanofi announced that it will acquire Kadmon Pharmaceuticals for $1.9 billion. In a recent press release, Sanofi stated that  the acquisition supports the company’s strategy to continue to grow its General Medicines core assets, and will immediately add Rezuroc (belumosudil) to its transplant portfolio.

Rezurock is a recently FDA-approved treatment for chronic graft-versus-host disease – a potentially fatal immune condition which arises when the immune system attacks newly transported tissue or organs. The treatment is prescribed for adult and pediatric patients 12 years and older who have failed at least two prior lines of systemic therapy.

Once the acquisition closes, the drug will become the third asset in Sanofi’s established transplant medicine portfolio, and no doubt support this growing area. The other products, Thymoglobulin and Mozobil, are currently registered and marketed in more than 65 countries globally. 

Oliver Charmeil, Executive VP General Medicines said “We are thrilled to add Kadmon’s Rezurock to our well-established transplant portfolio. Our existing scale, expertise, and relationships in transplant create an ideal platform to achieve the full potential of Rezurock, which will address the significant unmet medical needs of patients with chronic graft-versus-host disease around the world.”

Charlotte Di Salvo, Editor & Lead Medical Writer
PharmaFeatures