Evotec today announced that it has signed a transaction agreement with Sanofi through which it will integrate Sanofi’s infectious disease unit into its organization and license-in the majority of the Sanofi’s infectious disease research portfolio and initiatives.
The transaction also will more than double the number of scientists employed at Evotec, with 100 Sanofi employees to be integrated into its global drug discovery and development operations – which will now include approximately 180 scientists.
In addition to an upfront payment of €60m ($69.61m), Sanofi will support the work with further long-term funding. Sanofi will retain certain option rights on the development, manufacturing, and commercialization of products resulting from the licensed assets.
The transaction will be closed in the coming weeks and solidifies negotiations initiated in March of this year.
Open innovation
According to the company, Evotec will launch new “open innovation” initiatives and collaborate with additional partners to accelerate infectious disease research.
“We invite more companies, academic institutions, governments and foundations from around the world to help us advance new novel anti-infectives toward the market,” said Dr. Werner Lanthaler, Evotec, CEO, in a statement.
The initial focus areas will be on superbug infections and antimicrobial resistance (AMR), which the World Health Organization (WHO) says is one of the biggest threats to health today – and is rising to “dangerously high levels” globally.
Evotec also will focus on Tuberculosis and Malaria, as well as novel antiviral therapies with new mechanisms of action.