Pharma BD Deal Intelligence
Sanofi Pasteur and Translate Bio closed an expanded collaboration and licensing agreement covering mRNA vaccines for all infectious diseases (broadening the 2018 deal that had covered up to five pathogens). Translate Bio received $425M ($300M cash upfront + $125M equity) with eligibility for up to $1.9B in milestones plus tiered royalties. The collaboration proved the foundation for Sanofi's full acquisition of Translate Bio: announced Aug 3, 2021 at $38/share (~$3.2B equity value) and completed Sep 14, 2021. Sanofi subsequently deprioritized the COVID-19 candidate MRT5500 and pivoted the Translate Bio mRNA platform toward seasonal influenza and other pathogens; the seasonal-flu mRNA effort was later wound down.
Assessment window: 5yr post-close.