Sanofi Acquires Blueprint Medicines for $91 Billion, Boosting Immunology Portfolio by 27%

Sanofi, a prominent French pharmaceutical company, has announced its acquisition of Blueprint Medicines Corp., a U.S.-based biopharmaceutical firm, for $91 billion in equity value. This strategic move is aimed at enhancing Sanofi's therapeutic pipeline in the rare immune disease sector.

According to the joint statement released by both companies, Sanofi will acquire Blueprint at a cash price of $129 per share, which represents a 27% premium over Blueprint's closing price from the previous Friday. Additionally, Blueprint shareholders will receive non-tradable contingent value rights (CVR), which will provide an additional $2 to $4 per share if the drug BLU-808, a potential treatment for mast cell diseases including chronic urticaria, achieves certain research and regulatory milestones in the future.

This acquisition underscores Sanofi's ambition to establish itself as a leader in the field of immunology. Earlier this year, the company announced plans to acquire Dren Bio, Inc.'s autoimmune disease drugs for up to $19 billion. Sanofi's CEO, Paul Hudson, commented on the acquisition, stating, "This acquisition is a strategic breakthrough for our rare disease and immunology product portfolio, enriching our research and development pipeline and accelerating our transformation into a global leader in immunology."

Hudson further noted that Sanofi maintains a substantial acquisition capability. Blueprint currently focuses on targeted therapies for systemic mastocytosis, a rare disease characterized by the abnormal accumulation of immune cells leading to symptoms such as urticaria and abdominal pain. The company's flagship drug, Ayvakit (Ayvakyt in Europe), is expected to generate sales of $7 to $7.2 billion by 2025.

Sanofi highlighted that Blueprint also possesses a rich product pipeline, including several immunology drugs in development, and has established a robust clinical network among specialists. For Blueprint, this acquisition marks the successful culmination of its strategic pivot. Founded in 2008 and listed in 2015, the biotech company initially focused on cancer treatments but shifted its strategy towards immunology after terminating a collaboration with Roche and withdrawing a certain anticancer drug from the market.

Including potential CVR payments, the total value of the transaction, fully diluted, is approximately $95 billion. Sanofi expects the deal to close in the third quarter and has stated that it will not significantly impact its financial guidance for 2025.