Sanofi acquires US biotech TargeGen

Sanofi-Aventis is to buy TargeGen, a US biopharmaceutical company which develops small molecule kinase inhibitors.

The drugs are used to treat some forms of leukaemia, lymphoma and other haematological malignancies and blood disorders.

The deal is expected to go through before the end of the year, with Sanofi-Aventis paying $75 million up front, and further potential milestone payments adding another $485 million to TargeGen’s coffers.

Most hopes at present are pinned on the San Diego company’s lead candidate TG 101348, a potent inhibitor of Janus kinase 2 (JAK-2).

“Sanofi-Aventis brings many strengths to the continued development and potential commercialisation of TG101348”, said Peter Ulrich, president of TargeGen.

“With their global focus on oncology and long term commitment to this patient population, we are confident they will maximise the potential of TG101348 across multiple clinical indications.”

At present the oral agent is being developed to treat myeloproliferative diseases including myelofibrosis (MF), a chronic and progressive disorder in which an abnormal type of bone marrow stem cell results in fibrosis.

But it could also be effective in other haematological malignancies, such as Polycythemia Vera (PV), a blood disorder in which the bone marrow produces too many red blood cells.

Estimated to affect around 400,000 patients in the US and in Europe, there is no approved therapy therapies to treat such diseases, collectively called myeloproliferative neoplasms.

“The acquisition of TargeGen represents a further significant step to increase our engagement in the field of haematological malignancies,” said Marc Cluzel, Sanofi’s executive vice president of R&D.

“In addition, this acquisition is another example of our strong commitment to oncology to provide patients, physicians and public health stakeholders with breakthrough medicines addressing unmet medical needs.”

TG 101348 has completed a clinical phase I/II trial in MF patients and more studies are planned for later this year.

As well as PV and MF, myeloproliferative neoplasms include essential thrombocythemia, a blood disorder characterised by the overproduction of platelets bymegakaryocytes in the bone marrow – a condition which can lead to acute myeloid leukemia or MF.

Adam Hill