Adagene, a US-based biopharma company, has signed a collaboration and license deal worth up to $2.5 billion plus royalties with Sanofi to produce masked monoclonal and bispecific immuno-oncology antibody candidates for development and commercialization by the latter.

As per the terms of the deal, Adagene will handle the early stage research activities for developing masked versions of Sanofi candidate antibodies by using its SAFEbody technology.

Peter Luo — Co-founder, CEO, and Chairman of Adagene said: “We are excited to work with Sanofi and unlock the potential of multiple promising yet challenging immuno-oncology targets by applying our SAFEbody precision masking technology, which is validated by extensive preclinical research as well as clinical data from our ADG126 anti-CTLA-4 program.

“We are at the forefront of pushing the boundaries of antibody discovery and engineering by leveraging our AI-powered technology platform. This enables dynamic and precise target engagement by our antibody-based therapeutics, which are tailor made to overcome the fundamental challenges in oncology drug development today.”

Sanofi will be responsible solely to carry out later stage research and all clinical, product development, and commercialization works.

The French healthcare company will pay an upfront amount of $17.5 million to Adagene and will be able to advance a couple of initial Sanofi antibody candidates in the partnership, followed by an option for two more candidates.

In addition to that, the American biopharma company will be entitled to get total potential development, regulatory and commercial milestone payments totaling up to $2.5 billion for advancement of the candidates, which will be developed exclusively and commercialized by the French firm.

Adagene will also be eligible to get tiered royalties on global net sales of approved products coming out of the collaboration.

Valeria Fantin — Sanofi Global Head of Oncology Research said: “Committed to chasing the miracles of science, we look forward to working with Adagene to design antibodies that can help us deliver on our mission to bring transformative new medicines to people living with cancer.

“Adagene’s antibody platform should help us to precisely target established, but poorly addressed oncology mechanisms with best-in-class medicines.”

  Adagene, cancer, Oncology, Peter Luo, Sanofi, USA, Valeria Fantin