Pharma BD Deal Intelligence
Sanofi entered an exclusive worldwide license agreement for MZE001, an oral GYS1 inhibitor (oral substrate reduction therapy) for Pompe disease. Maze was to receive $150M cash upfront plus equity, with up to ~$600M in development/regulatory/commercial milestones (~$750M total). The U.S. FTC sued to block the deal in December 2023 as anticompetitive to Sanofi's Pompe ERT franchise; Sanofi terminated the agreement on Dec 11, 2023 and the FTC dismissed its challenge two days later. The asset was subsequently re-partnered: on May 10, 2024 Shionogi licensed MZE001 worldwide from Maze for $150M upfront plus development/regulatory/commercial milestones and tiered royalties — the same upfront Sanofi had offered, secured without antitrust overlap.