Goodwin Advised Dren Bio In Sanofi’s Acquisition Of Bispecific Myeloid Cell Engager
Goodwin Advised Dren Bio In Sanofi’s Acquisition Of Bispecific Myeloid Cell Engager
The transaction is expected to close during Q2 2025.
Goodwin’s life sciences team advised Dren Bio in a conclusive agreement with Sanofi under which the latter has agreed to acquire a targeted bispecific myeloid cell engager (MCE) – DR-0201 – which has shown robust B-cell depletion in pre-clinical and early clinical studies. A potential first-in-class CD20-directed bispecific antibody, DR-0201, targets and engages certain tissue-resident and trafficking myeloid cells to stimulate deep B-cell depletion via targeted phagocytosis.
As per the agreement, Sanofi, through the acquisition of Dren Bio affiliate Dren-0201 for an upfront payment of $600 million and potential future payments totalling $1.3 billion upon achievement of certain development and launch milestones, will acquire DR-0201. Sanofi’s acquisition of Dren-0201 is subject to closing conditions, including receipt of regulatory approvals. The transaction is expected to close during Q2 2025.
A privately held, clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company, Dren Bio has pioneered the discovery and development of novel first-in-class antibody therapeutics for the treatment of autoimmune diseases and cancer. DR-01 is Dren Bio’s lead product candidate and is presently being evaluated in oncology and autoimmune indications. Additionally, the targeted myeloid engager and phagocytosis platform of Dren Bio is a bispecific antibody-based technology that stimulates potent depletion of disease-causing agents by engaging a novel phagocytic receptor which is activated only in the presence of the target antigen and selectively expressed on myeloid cells.
The Goodwin team was led by partners Erini Svokos, Yasin Akbari and Bill Collins; and included partner Sarah Stoiber, associate Alexandra Haas, associate Katerina Stavrianidis and John Yates (licencing); counsel Kimberley Maruncic, associate Joseph Yim, associate Evan De Ycaza and associate Lauren Kidd (corporate); associate Connor Hannagan and associate Cusaj Thomas (corporate restructuring); partner Dan Karelitz and associate Tyler Mayo (tax); partners Paul Jin and Elliot Silver and associate Arom Yun (antitrust); partner Grace Wirth and associate Seth Manilove (ECB); partner Susan Lee (FDA); partner Matt Wetzel (healthcare), partner Tim Holahan and associate Ashton Lee O’Halloran (L&E); partner Justin Pierce and associate Gozde Guckaya (CFIUS); partner Jackie Klosek (privacy); partner Katherine Murphy (REI); counsel Brian Mukherjee (insurance); with invaluable assistance from vice-president Stuart Cable, counsel Emily Beman, associate Nick Allison, associate Charlie Davis, Angela Eunkyung, Sarah Hamad, Samantha Mita, Krisn Modi, Reema Moussa, Nikol Nerhan, associate Ogechika Oselukwue, associate Nikhil Shiva, associate Sofia Wyman, associate Aiste Zalepuga, professional staff Scott Zilora, Sam Albanese and ACP – Paralegal Aniko Bouley.
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