French healthcare company Sanofi S.A. (Euronext Paris:SAN) (Nasdaq:SNY) on Thursday announced a definitive agreement with Dren Bio Inc, a private clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company, to acquire DR-0201, its bispecific myeloid cell engager (MCE) targeting deep B-cell depletion.

A potential first-in-class CD20-directed bispecific antibody, DR-0201 engages tissue-resident and trafficking myeloid cells to induce B-cell depletion through targeted phagocytosis.

This acquisition strengthens Sanofi's immunology pipeline and advances its goal of becoming a leader in immunology. Early clinical data suggests DR-0201 may reset the immune system, offering the potential for treatment-free remission in patients with refractory B-cell mediated autoimmune diseases such as lupus.

Sanofi will pay USD600m upfront for Dren-0201, a Dren Bio affiliate, with additional potential payments of up to USD1.3bn based on development and launch milestones. Following the acquisition, Dren Bio will continue to operate independently to advance its pipeline of antibody therapeutics.

The transaction is subject to regulatory approvals and customary closing conditions, with completion expected in Q2 2025.