Vicebio, a biopharmaceutical company that develops vaccines for serious respiratory viral infections, has agreed to be acquired by Sanofi.
As part of the deal, Vicebio shareholders will receive up to $1.6B (approximately €1.36B), which includes an upfront payment of $1.15B and an additional $450M (approximately €385M) based on development and regulatory milestones, pending usual conditions.
Based out of Paris, Sanofi is a biopharmaceutical company focused on research and development and driven by artificial intelligence.
The company aims to improve lives and achieve growth by using its knowledge of the immune system to create medicines and vaccines.
Sanofi is listed on EURONEXT as SAN and on NASDAQ as SNY.
Dr. Emmanuel Hanon, Chief Executive Officer of Vicebio, adds, “Vicebio and its incredibly passionate team have been driven by the ambition to develop next-generation vaccines aimed at targeting multiple life-threatening respiratory viruses simultaneously. This acquisition validates our ability to combine innovation and deep scientific expertise towards a common goal of advancing public health prevention, and we’re excited to enter the next chapter to accelerate the global impact of our work.”
Vicebio: Developing vaccines for respiratory viral infections
Vicebio is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing transformative multi-pathogen vaccines for respiratory viral infections.
The company was created by Medicxi to develop next-generation vaccines for respiratory viruses utilising its proprietary Molecular Clamp technology, discovered at The University of Queensland.
This technology stabilises viral proteins to create strong immune responses and allows for the efficient production of ready-to-use liquid vaccines.
The Molecular Clamp technology works for various viruses, including Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV), Human Metapneumovirus (hMPV), Parainfluenza viruses, Influenza, and Coronaviruses.
This proprietary technology was developed by Prof. Paul Young, Prof. Daniel Watterson, and Prof. Keith Chappell at UQ.
In September 2024, Vicebio announced a Series B funding round led by TCGX, with contributions from Life Sciences at Goldman Sachs Alternatives, Avoro Ventures, venBio Partners, and support from UniQuest and the founding investor Medicxi.
The company is currently conducting an exploratory Phase 1 clinical trial for its lead asset, VXB-241, which is a bivalent vaccine designed to target both RSV and hMPV viruses.
These pathogens pose a significant risk to the elderly and individuals with weakened immune systems. The interim analysis of the trial has shown a favourable safety and tolerability profile in adults aged 60 and older.
Dr. Giovanni Mariggi, Chairman of Vicebio and Partner at Medicxi, says “Our aim in creating Vicebio was to back a clear product vision to develop a best-in-class vaccine against respiratory viruses. We are extremely proud of what we have accomplished in the last few years thanks to a team effort by the Company, University of Queensland, our investors and the Board. We are excited to partner with Sanofi, which will further accelerate VXB-241’s development to ensure it ultimately benefits those in need.”
