Sanofi (SNY) has entered a strategic collaboration with Dren Bio to develop a next-generation B-cell depleting therapy for autoimmune diseases, Dren Bio said on Monday.
The company said the agreement builds on Sanofi's recent acquisition of Dren Bio's DR-0201 program, now called SAR448501, which is in phase 1 studies and has shown strong B-cell depletion with potential for sustained treatment-free remission.
Under the deal, Dren Bio said it will receive a $100 million upfront payment and could earn up to $1.7 billion in development, regulatory, and commercial milestones.
The companies will collaborate on discovery and preclinical work, after which Sanofi will lead development, manufacturing, regulatory, and commercialization, Dren Bio said.
Dren Bio has the option to enter a US profit/loss sharing arrangement, co-funding 40% of development costs for US co-promotion rights and a 50/50 split of US profits and losses, the company said.
It added that outside the US, Dren Bio remains eligible for milestones and tiered royalties.
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