Sanofi to acquire Amunix immuno-oncology pipeline with next
generation Conditionally Activated Biologics
Sanofi to acquire
Amunix
immuno-oncology pipeline
with next generation
Conditionally
Activated
Biologics
- Adds promising pipeline of T-cell engagers and cytokine
therapies with lead candidate AMX-818 expected to enter the clinic
in early 2022
- Provides access to Amunix Pro-XTENTM, XPAT®, and XPACTM
technology, complementary to Sanofi’s existing R&D
platforms
PARIS – December
21, 2021 – Sanofi
announced today that it has entered into an agreement to
acquire Amunix Pharmaceuticals, Inc., an immuno-oncology
company leveraging its proprietary, clinically validated XTEN®
and innovative universal protease-releasable masking technology
platform, Pro-XTENTM, to discover and develop transformative
T-cell engagers (TCE) and cytokine therapies for patients with
cancer. Amunix’s pipeline, which includes lead candidate, AMX-818,
a masked HER2-directed TCE, offers a strong strategic fit with
Sanofi’s focus on developing potentially transformative cancer
therapies in immuno-oncology. Under the terms of the agreement,
Sanofi will acquire Amunix for an upfront payment of approximately
$1 billion and up to $225 million upon achievement of certain
future development milestones. The acquisition supports Sanofi’s
efforts to accelerate and expand its contributions to innovative
medicines for oncology patients, with approximately 20 molecules
currently in development.
“This acquisition demonstrates our ongoing commitment to
investing in promising research and discovery platforms,” said John
Reed, M.D., Ph.D., Global Head of Research & Development,
Sanofi. “The Amunix technology platform utilizes a next generation
smart biologics approach to precisely tailor-deliver medicines to
become active only in tumor tissues while sparing normal tissues,
thus bringing the promise of more effective and safer treatment
options for cancer patients. We are excited to rapidly advance
Amunix’s promising pipeline and to combine their innovative
candidate medicines with complementary molecules in Sanofi’s
immuno-oncology portfolio.” Amunix’s proprietary XTEN® masks
and cleavable linkers are a next-generation protein engineering
approach that allows biologics to circulate in “stealth” mode,
becoming active preferentially in disease specific
micro-environments, with the aim to enable
safer and more efficacious medicines. The technology can be
applied to a wide range of existing and potentially new pipeline
assets. The molecular design of Amunix’s molecules endows the
inactive stealth molecules with long-lasting properties, converting
after activation in disease tissues to short half-life agents so
that the active molecule is rapidly cleared from the body.
Specifically, in immuno-oncology, Amunix’s technology offers
the potential to overcome challenges that have plagued the adoption
of T-Cell Engager bi-specific antibodies for solid tumors,
including unwanted immune attack of normal healthy cells and
systematic widespread immune system activation that leads to side
effects such as Cytokine Release Syndrome.
“We are very proud of what the extraordinary and diverse Amunix
team has accomplished in the development of our Pro-XTEN technology
and rapid expansion of our pipeline,” said Angie You, Ph.D., CEO,
Amunix.
“We now look forward to combining forces with Sanofi’s team to
leverage its expertise and together serve as a center of excellence
in bringing these potentially better and safer drug candidates to
patients,” said Volker Schellenberger, Ph.D., Co-Founder, President
and Chief Technology Officer, Amunix.
The closing
of the transaction is subject to expiration or termination of the
waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements
Act of 1976 and other customary closing conditions. Sanofi expects
to complete the acquisition in Q1 of 2022.
Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP is acting as Sanofi’s legal
counsel. Centerview Partners LLC is acting as financial advisor to
Amunix and Fenwick & West LLP is acting as its legal
counsel.
XTEN, XPAT, XPAC and PRO-XTEN are trademarks in the name of
Amunix.
About Amunix
Amunix Pharmaceuticals is an immuno-oncology company focused on
designing and developing masked T cell engagers and
cytokines to bring the promise of these potent immune-activating
biotherapeutics to patients with cancers. The company is leveraging
its proprietary XPAT® and XPAC™ platforms to advance a
pipeline of novel drugs that are preferentially activated in the
tumor microenvironment and designed to overcome toxicity challenges
that have hindered other T cell and cytokine therapies.
Amunix’s proprietary masking technology has been clinically
validated to extend drug half-life with limited immunogenicity. The
company’s initial product candidate is AMX-818, an XPAT® T
cell engager targeting a variety
of HER2-expressing solid tumors, which is currently
advancing towards the clinic. Along with several other T
cell engager programs, including PSMA-XPAT and EGFR-XPAT,
Amunix is also applying its proprietary masking technology to its
first masked, protease-activated cytokine
program, IL12-XPAC™.
Amunix investors include: ArrowMark Partners, Avidity Partners,
Bain Capital Life Sciences, BlackRock, Casdin Capital, CaaS Capital
Management, Clough Capital Partners, Delian Capital, Franklin
Templeton, Frazier Healthcare Partners, Janus Henderson Investors,
Longitude Capital, Lowercase Capital, Omega Funds, Polaris
Partners, Redmile Group,Two River, Venrock, Viking Global
Investors.For additional information about the company, please
visit Amunix’s website.
About Sanofi
Sanofi is dedicated to supporting people through their health
challenges. We are a global biopharmaceutical company focused on
human health. We prevent illness with vaccines, provide innovative
treatments to fight pain and ease suffering. We stand by the few
who suffer from rare diseases and the millions with long-term
chronic conditions.
With more than 100,000 people in 100 countries, Sanofi is
transforming scientific innovation into healthcare solutions around
the globe.
Sanofi Media Relations Contacts
Sally Bain Tel.: +1 (781)
264-1091 Sally.Bain@sanofi.com
Nicolas Obrist Tel.: +33 (0)6 77 21 27
55 Nicolas.Obrist@sanofi.com
Amunix Media Relations
Contact media@amunix.com
Sanofi Investor Relations Contacts
Paris Eva Schaefer-Jansen Arnaud
Delepine Nathalie Pham
Sanofi Investor Relations Contacts
North America Felix Lauscher
Tel.: +33 (0)1 53 77 45
45 investor.relations@sanofi.com https://www.sanofi.com/en/investors/contact
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- Press release Amunix Sanofi ENG 211221
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