Sanofi Abandons Multiple Mid-Stage Drug Programs

New Delhi, February 11, 2018: Included in its fourth-quarter earnings report, Paris-based Sanofi published a pipeline update, demonstrating it intends to stop several mid-stage medication programs.

Sanofi is finishing a mid-stage application for isatuximab for acute lymphoblastic leukemia, also SAR428926, an anti-LAMP1 ADC for solid tumors.

Additionally, following a Phase II trial for SAR156597 for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis has been completed, they finished the program. SAR156597 is a IL-4/IL-13 antibody. Additionally, it shuttered a late-stage application to get a vaccine for Clostridium difficile.

John Carroll, together with Endpoints News, writes, “The brand new roster of reverses underscores the issues which Sanofi has had to face in attempting to concentrate more on its own in-house pipeline.

These include 2018 readouts on its own cholesterol medication Praluent, in addition to cemiplimab and dupilumab, all three at a partnership with Regeneron.

Dupixent, for psoriasis, has performed well in the U.S., but the firm indicated sales are slow in Europe. The medication earned roughly $145.6 million from the fourth quarter globally, quite near Leerink analyst Seamus Fernandez’s projections of $146.9 million. In Europe, Dupixent earnings were $1.23 million, far under the $8 million estimated by Kennen MacKay, an analyst with RBC.

In a note to clients, MacKay wrote, “We see the U.S. end result as indicative of continuing strong uptake using Dupixent’s 40 percent-and quarter-over-year expansion continued to impress. By comparison, we expect that the European ramp may take extra time.”

The business also announced it was laying off 130 people at its production site at Allston Landing in Boston.

The business reported total fourth-quarter earnings of $10.72 billion, falling 2% on a constant-currency foundation in comparison with the identical period in 2016. Operational expenditures were 9 percentage over Fernandez’s projections.

For 2018, Sanofi has given advice of EPS growth of 2 to 5% at constant exchange rates, including the donations from the recent acquisitions of Bioverativ and Ablynx.

On January 22, it declared it had obtained Waltham, Massachusetts-based Bioverativ for approximately $11.6 billion. Bioverative has two medications on the Current Market, Eloctate for Hemophilia A and Alprolix for Hemophilia B.

A week after, on January 29, Sanofi obtained Ghent, Belgium-based Ablynx for about $4.8 billion. Ablynx concentrates on Nanobodies, a novel type of proprietary next-generation biologics. It’s a pipeline of over 45 proprietary and partnered drug applicants in hematology, inflammation, immuno-oncology and respiratory ailments. Eight of the chemicals are in clinical trials.

For the previous year, Sanofi was making plans to market its European generic drug organization, Zentiva. Founded by Reuters, prospective buyers are narrowed down to two pharma firms, three private equity capital, along with a consortium of buyers. The consortium Consists of both Blackstone and Nordic Capital. The 3 additional private equity capital include Carlyle, BC Partners and Advent.

Reportedly, the firms all left bids in January, also Sanofi hopes to winnow it down to one purchaser at the end of their first quarter. Zentiva is valued at roughly $2.49 billion.