Sanofi expands immunology prospects to acquire new bispecific drugs for $600 million
Bispecific antibodies first attract patients with cancer treatments, but more and more companies are working to expand these therapies to autoimmune diseases. Sanofi is adding a new competitor to agree to pay $600 million in bispecific drugs, which may be the first in class.
The amount announced Thursday is an advance payment for Dren Bio candidate DR-0201. If the drug reaches development and product launch milestones, private biotech, based in Foster, California, will earn up to $1.3 billion in revenue.
Bispecific antibodies bind to two targets simultaneously, one on immune cells and the other on target cells. These drugs were initially used to treat blood cancer by consuming cancer-driven B cells. But B cells also drive certain autoimmune diseases, making these rogue immune cells attractive to the bispecific drug R&D.
On B cells, DR-0201 targets a protein called CD20. The drug causes these cells to be consumed by phagocytosis, in which immune cells engulf the pathogen, eliminating the pathogen. DR-0201 suggests this effect by activating specific phagocytosis receptors on myeloid cells, an immune cell. Dren Bio believes this approach may provide safety and dosing advantages. Compared with other targeted antibody therapies, phagocytosis receptors are activated only in the presence of targeted antigens, so DR-0201 may be able to provide a broader therapeutic index and superior safety, such as T cell inclusions (TCES) and antibody drug conjugates (ADCs).
DREN BIO drugs are currently being evaluated in a two-phase study, one in healthy volunteers and the other in a range of autoimmune diseases such as lupus, Sjogren syndrome, dermatitis and scleroderma. Dren Bio has not formally reported the results of these studies, but Sanofi said the latest data from the autoimmune disease study “indicates that deep B cell depletion may have the potential to reset the adaptive immune system, resulting in patients who have persistent untreated fats such as lupus, such as lupus, none of the remaining contents are severely required.”
Houman Ashrafian, head of research and development at Sanofi, said in a prepared statement that DR-0201 has the potential to improve the efficacy of patients, especially those responding to existing therapies. Security may be another key advantage. Clinicians told the company that safety is particularly important for patients with lupus, said David Risinger, an analyst at Leerink Partners, in a study note. Although B cells can be solved by following drugs such as CD19 and BCMA, these therapies can also affect plasma cells, which secrete antibodies important for immunity. Targeting CD20 spare plasma cells, so CD20-targeted bispecific drugs such as DR-0201 should retain the patient's immunity and reduce the risk of developmental infection.
Sanofi's DR-0201 acquisition is the latest deal for bispecific drugs for potential applications in autoimmune diseases. Last summer, Merck agreed to pay $700 million in rated authority to pay for Curry Biopharma bispecific antibodies and have potential oncology and immunology applications. Shortly afterwards, Startup Candid Therapeutics launched with $370 million in financing and two unauthorized TCEs. Last October, GSK paid $300 million to pay the rights to TCE developed by Chimagen Biosciences. GSK is also involved in the formation of Ouro Medicines, the startup opened $120 million in January and arrived at the clinic through a licensed TCE.
Sanofi Pipeline currently lists a bispecific antibody, SAR446422. The drug is designed to target CD28 and OX4O receptors and is being tested for potential applications in inflammation. Sanofi said it will fund the acquisition of DR-0201 with its available cash. The transaction remains subject to regulatory approvals and is expected to be completed in the second quarter of this year.
Photo: Nathan Ryan/Bloomberg, by Getty Images
