Sanofi Signs Potential $1 Billion Deal for Alzheimer’s Antibody Asset
French Pharma Gains Global Access to South Korean Biotech's Monoclonal Antibody with 'First-in-Class' Potential
Sanofi has entered into a licensing agreement with Adel, a clinical-stage biotech based in Seoul, South Korea, for the development and commercialization of an antibody therapy targeting Alzheimer’s disease. The total deal value could potentially reach over $1 billion.
Under the announced terms, Sanofi will provide an upfront cash payment of $80 million to Adel. The total transaction value may reach up to $1.04 billion, plus future royalties on sales.
In exchange, Sanofi secures exclusive global rights to Adel’s antibody therapy coded ADEL-Y01, along with access to related backup compounds. The partners view ADEL-Y01 as holding “first-in-class” potential for Alzheimer’s treatment.
About the ADEL-Y01 Therapy:
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It is a humanized monoclonal antibody designed to selectively target tau protein acetylated at lysine-280 (acK280).
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The tau protein is a critical factor in Alzheimer’s and other neurodegenerative conditions.
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The antibody is engineered to halt the aggregation and spread of toxic tau while preserving the function of normal microtubule-associated tau.
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ADEL-Y01 is currently being assessed in an ongoing global Phase 1 trial.
This agreement marks Sanofi’s second reported deal of the day, following the announcement of an expanded partnership with Dren Bio for an autoimmune disease therapy.
However, the same day also brought setbacks for Sanofi’s other pipeline assets: its investigational BTK inhibitor, tolebrutinib, for multiple sclerosis, faced an FDA delay in its decision timeline and missed the primary endpoint in a separate Phase 3 study for primary progressive MS (PPMS).
