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Sanofi to acquire Origimm Biotechnology in first move to treat acne with vaccine-based immunotherapy

- Origimm brings expertise in antigen discovery for immune modulation of skin microbiome-associated disorder

- Transaction adds to Sanofi pipeline a potential first-in-class vaccine candidate in acne vulgaris, a condition affecting millions of people worldwide

- Sanofi to leverage its next-generation mRNA platform to unlock potential of vaccine-candidate

Sanofi announced today it entered into an agreement to acquire Origimm Biotechnology GmbH, an Austrian privately owned biotechnology company specializing in the discovery of virulent skin microbiome components and antigens from bacteria causing skin disease, such as acne. With this acquisition, Sanofi continues executing its global Play to Win strategy, pursuing growth opportunities and building an industry-leading vaccines pipeline.

The transaction will add ORI-001 to Sanofi’s early-stage pipeline. ORI-001 is a therapeutic vaccine candidate for acne vulgaris based on recombinant proteins, which entered preliminary clinical studies in Q3 2021. In parallel, Sanofi is working to develop additional antigen versions and expects to leverage its next-generation mRNA platform in a comprehensive Ph1/2 trial to start in 2023.  

“The acquisition of Origimm further broadens our vaccines R&D pipeline with a first vaccine candidate against acne, a high medical need for millions of teenagers and adults,” says Thomas Triomphe, Executive Vice President, Global Head of Sanofi Pasteur. “Welcoming Origimm within Sanofi expands our area of expertise by bringing extensive know-how in the field of skin microbiome and skin immunology. We look forward to unlocking the full potential of this candidate”.

Acne is a widespread and stigmatizing condition for millions of people globally, causing substantial psychological burden for teenagers but also adults – over 10% of them still experiencing acne after age 501. The Cutibacterium acnes bacterium plays a central role in the development of moderate to severe acne. There is today no satisfactory treatment against acne combining high efficacy and acceptable safety.

“We are looking forward to combining our expertise and strengths to continue developing innovative solutions for prevention and treatment of the skin microbiome-associated diseases, such as common acne” says Sanya Selak, PhD, Founder & CEO/CSO of Origimm. “Together with such a strong partner like Sanofi, we will strive to creating a paradigm shift in treatment of skin diseases and many other microbiome-associated disorders and infections, for which current medical solutions are inadequate.”

The acquisition is expected to close early December 2021.

About Origimm

Origimm (‘Origins of Immunity’) is an Austrian biotech company with lead expertise in discovery of vaccine antigens and drug targets for prevention and treatment of diseases and infections associated with skin-colonizing microbes.

About Sanofi

Sanofi is dedicated to supporting people through their health challenges. We are a global biopharmaceutical company focused on human health. We prevent illness with vaccines, provide innovative treatments to fight pain and ease suffering. We stand by the few who suffer from rare diseases and the millions with long-term chronic conditions.
With more than 100,000 people in 100 countries, Sanofi is transforming scientific innovation into healthcare solutions around the globe.

Sanofi Media Relations Contacts

Sandrine Guendoul
Tel.: +33 (0)6 25 09 14 25
Sandrine.Guendoul(at)sanofi.com

Sally Bain
Tel.: +1 (617) 834-6026
Sally.Bain(at)sanofi.com

Victor Rouault
Tel.: +33 (0)6 70 93 71 40
Victor.Rouault(at)sanofi.com

Sanofi Investor Relations Contacts Paris

Eva Schaefer-Jansen
Arnaud Delepine
Nathalie Pham

Sanofi Investor Relations Contacts North America

Felix Lauscher
Tel.: +33 (0)1 53 77 45 45
investor.relations(at)sanofi.com
https://www.sanofi.com/en/investors/contact

Sanofi Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts. These statements include projections and estimates and their underlying assumptions, statements regarding plans, objectives, intentions and expectations with respect to future financial results, events, operations, services, product development and potential, and statements regarding future performance. Forward-looking statements are generally identified by the words “expects”, “anticipates”, “believes”, “intends”, “estimates”, “plans” and similar expressions. Although Sanofi’s management believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, investors are cautioned that forward-looking information and statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties, many of which are difficult to predict and generally beyond the control of Sanofi, that could cause actual results and developments to differ materially from those expressed in, or implied or projected by, the forward-looking information and statements. These risks and uncertainties include among other things, the uncertainties inherent in research and development, future clinical data and analysis, including post marketing, decisions by regulatory authorities, such as the FDA or the EMA, regarding whether and when to approve any drug, device or biological application that may be filed for any such product candidates as well as their decisions regarding labelling and other matters that could affect the availability or commercial potential of such product candidates, the fact that product candidates if approved may not be commercially successful, the future approval and commercial success of therapeutic alternatives, Sanofi’s ability to benefit from external growth opportunities, to complete related transactions and/or obtain regulatory clearances, risks associated with intellectual property and any related pending or future litigation and the ultimate outcome of such litigation, trends in exchange rates and prevailing interest rates, volatile economic and market conditions, cost containment initiatives and subsequent changes thereto, and the impact that COVID-19 will have on us, our customers, suppliers, vendors, and other business partners, and the financial condition of any one of them, as well as on our employees and on the global economy as a whole. Any material effect of COVID-19 on any of the foregoing could also adversely impact us. This situation is changing rapidly and additional impacts may arise of which we are not currently aware and may exacerbate other previously identified risks. The risks and uncertainties also include the uncertainties discussed or identified in the public filings with the SEC and the AMF made by Sanofi, including those listed under “Risk Factors” and “Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” in Sanofi’s annual report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2020. Other than as required by applicable law, Sanofi does not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information or statements.

1 J Invest Dematol. 2009. 129(9) :2136-41 ; N Z Med J. 1995. 108(1004):2879; J Am Acad Dermatol. 200. 51):56-9

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