Sanofi has announced plans to acquire Vicebio Ltd, a privately held biotechnology company based in London, for $1.15 billion in cash. The acquisition aims to expand Sanofi's respiratory vaccines pipeline and enhance its capabilities in vaccine design and development through Vicebio's innovative Molecular Clamp technology.
Strategic Expansion in Respiratory Vaccines
The acquisition brings an early-stage combination vaccine candidate for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and human metapneumovirus (hMPV) to Sanofi's portfolio. This candidate complements Sanofi's existing position in the respiratory vaccines space, where the company is already involved in flu and RSV prevention. The addition of a non-mRNA vaccine to Sanofi's pipeline will provide increased physician and patient choice for RSV and hMPV prevention.
"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, Global Head of Research and Development Vaccines at Sanofi. "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 immunization."
Innovative Molecular Clamp Technology
Vicebio's proprietary Molecular Clamp technology stabilizes viral proteins in their native shape, enabling the immune system to recognize and respond to them more effectively. This approach enables quicker development of fully liquid combination vaccines that can be stored at standard refrigeration temperatures (2–8°C), eliminating the need for freezing or freeze-drying, thereby simplifying manufacturing and distribution.
Furthermore, fully liquid vaccines can be made available in prefilled syringes, enhancing ease of use, safety, and operational efficiency across healthcare settings. The technology was developed by Prof. Paul Young, Prof. Daniel Watterson, and Prof. Keith Chappell at The University of Queensland, Australia.
Pipeline Assets and Clinical Development
Vicebio's pipeline includes VXB-241, a bivalent vaccine candidate targeting RSV and hMPV, currently in an exploratory phase 1 study in older adults, and VXB-251, a preclinical trivalent vaccine candidate targeting RSV, hMPV and parainfluenza virus Type 3 (PIV3).
RSV, HMPV and PIV3 are leading causes of lower respiratory tract infections such as pneumonia. While often causing overlapping symptoms such as cough, fever, and respiratory distress, these viruses are antigenically distinct, frequently co-circulating and contributing to seasonal surges in respiratory illness that can lead to older adult frailty, hospitalization and, in some cases, death.
Financial Terms and Timeline
Under the terms of the agreement, Sanofi will acquire all of Vicebio's share capital for a total upfront payment of $1.15 billion, with potential milestone payments of up to $450 million based on development and regulatory achievements. The transaction is expected to close in Q4 2025, subject to customary closing conditions, including receipt of regulatory approvals. The acquisition is not anticipated to have a significant impact on Sanofi's financial guidance for 2025.
Emmanuel Hanon, Chief Executive Officer at Vicebio, expressed enthusiasm about the acquisition: "We are excited to join Sanofi. Their global scale and deep expertise in vaccine development provide the ideal environment to fully realize the potential of our innovative technology. As part of the Sanofi team, we look forward to advancing our platform and pipeline to deliver meaningful benefits for patients and public health."
Vicebio was founded with investment from Medicxi and acquired the rights to the Molecular Clamp technology through a license from UniQuest, the commercialization arm of The University of Queensland, Australia.
