Sanofi to acquire Vicebio, a privately held biotechnology company based in London, for USD 1.15 billion in cash

Sanofi to acquire Vicebio, a privately held biotechnology company based in London, for USD 1.15 billion in cash

Paris, July 2, 2025 — Sanofi, a global biopharmaceutical company, has announced plans to acquire Vicebio Ltd, a privately held biotechnology company based in London, for USD 1.15 billion in cash. The acquisition aims to expand Sanofi's respiratory vaccines pipeline and enhance its capabilities in vaccine design and development.

The acquisition brings an early-stage combination vaccine candidate for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and human metapneumovirus (hMPV), both respiratory viruses, to Sanofi's portfolio. This candidate complements Sanofi's existing position in the respiratory vaccines space, where the company is already involved in flu and RSV prevention. The addition of a non-mRNA vaccine to Sanofi's pipeline will provide increased physician and patient choice for RSV and hMPV prevention.

Additionally, Vicebio's proprietary 'Molecular Clamp' technology, which stabilizes viral proteins in their native shape, will be integrated into Sanofi's vaccine development efforts. This technology enables quicker development of fully liquid combination vaccines that can be stored at standard refrigeration temperatures (2–8°C), eliminating the need for freezing or freeze-drying. Fully liquid vaccines can also be made available in prefilled syringes, enhancing ease of use, safety, and operational efficiency across healthcare settings.

Jean-François Toussaint, Global Head of Research and Development Vaccines at Sanofi, commented, "Vicebio's 'Molecular Clamp' technology introduces a purposefully simple but thoughtful approach to further improve vaccine designs at a time when respiratory viral infections continue to impact millions globally. This acquisition furthers Sanofi's dedication to vaccine innovation with the potential to develop next-generation combination vaccines that could provide protection to older adults against multiple respiratory viruses with a single immunization."

Emmanuel Hanon, Chief Executive Officer at Vicebio, expressed excitement about the acquisition, stating, "We are thrilled to join Sanofi. Their global scale and deep expertise in vaccine development provide the ideal environment to fully realize the potential of our innovative technology. As part of the Sanofi team, we look forward to advancing our platform and pipeline to deliver meaningful benefits for patients and public health."

Financial considerations
Under the terms of the agreement, Sanofi will acquire all of Vicebio’s share capital for a total upfront payment of USD 1.15 billion, with potential milestone payments of up to USD 450 million based on development and regulatory achievements. The transaction is expected to close in Q4 2025, subject to customary closing conditions, including receipt of regulatory approvals. The acquisition is not anticipated to have a significant impact on Sanofi’s financial guidance for 2025.

About Sanofi
Sanofi is an R&D-driven, AI-powered biopharma company committed to improving people’s lives and delivering compelling growth. The company applies its deep understanding of the immune system to invent medicines and vaccines that treat and protect millions of people around the world, with an innovative pipeline that could benefit millions more. Sanofi is listed on EURONEXT: SAN and NASDAQ: SNY.

About Vicebio
Vicebio is focused on developing next-generation respiratory virus vaccines using the Molecular Clamp Technology. The company was founded with investment from Medicxi and acquired the rights to the Molecular Clamp technology through a license from UniQuest, the commercialization arm of The University of Queensland, Australia. For more information, please visit: [https://www.vicebio.com/](https://www.vicebio.com/).

References:
[1] https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2025/07/22/3119150/0/en/Press-Release-Sanofi-to-acquire-Vicebio-expanding-respiratory-vaccines-pipeline.html
[2] https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2025/07/22/3119150/0/fr/Communiqu%C3%A9-de-presse-Sanofi-va-acqu%C3%A9rir-Vicebio-et-enrichir-son-pipeline-de-vaccins-respiratoires.html