Sanofi-Aventis and Regeneron extend partnership

Published: 11-Nov-2009

Sanofi-Aventis and Regeneron Pharmaceuticals have expanded an existing agreement to develop fully human therapeutic monoclonal antibodies up to 2017.


Sanofi-Aventis and Regeneron Pharmaceuticals have expanded an existing agreement to develop fully human therapeutic monoclonal antibodies up to 2017.

Initially the partnership, signed in 2007, was scheduled to end in 2012.

The companies aim to advance five antibodies into clinical development each year, with sanofi-aventis increasing its annual funding commitment from US$100m to US$160m from 2010. In addition to its VelocImmune technology, Regeneron will contribute its next-generation technologies.

Sanofi-Aventis has an option to extend the discovery programme for an additional three years for further antibody development and preclinical activities.

"The expansion of our collaboration provides even greater resources over a longer time horizon and will boost our efforts to build a deep pipeline of new human antibody product candidates," said Leonard Schleifer, chief executive of Regeneron.

"This collaboration will further fuel our product pipeline and allow us to bring multiple antibody product candidates into the clinic," added Marc Cluzel, executive vp of r&d at Sanofi-Aventis.

The companies have so far advanced four therapeutic antibodies into clinical development, aimed at conditions ranging from rheumatoid arthritis and pain, to advanced malignancies.

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