Sanofi and IGM Biosciences Announce $6 Billion+ Collaboration to Develop IgM Agonist Antibodies for Oncology, Immunology, and Inflammation

Today, Sanofi and IGM Biosciences announced a research and development collaboration. The partnership will leverage IGM Biosciences' proprietary IgM antibody technology platform to develop agonists targeting three oncology targets and three immunology/inflammation targets. The press release noted that this collaboration aims to pioneer a new potential therapeutic modality by utilizing the multivalent properties of IgM to create more effective agonists for activating cell surface receptors.

IgM is a type of antibody produced in the body. Unlike typical IgG antibodies, they possess 10 sites capable of binding with antigens, a feature that enhances their affinity for targets. The high affinity of IgM antibodies allows them to bind strongly with difficult-to-bind targets or those expressed at low levels on cell surfaces. Moreover, they have the ability to bind multiple targets on the cell surface simultaneously.

▲Different structures of IgM and IgG antibodies (Image source: IGM Biosciences official website)

According to the cooperation agreement, IGM will receive an upfront payment of 150 million US dollars. In terms of oncology cooperation, IGM will lead the R&D activities until obtaining regulatory approval from the US FDA or EU EMA. Each oncology target may obtain milestone payments of up to 940 million US dollars. After the first product for an oncology target obtains regulatory approval, Sanofi will lead the subsequent development and commercialization activities.

In terms of immunology/inflammation collaboration, IGM will be responsible for research and development activities until the completion of Phase 1 clinical trials, and Sanofi will take over subsequent development. For each target, IGM is eligible to receive milestone payments of up to $1.065 billion.

John Reed, Ph.D., Global Head of Research and Development at Sanofi, said: "We look forward to our collaboration with IGM Biosciences. Their technology platform offers the ability to develop high-affinity IgM antibodies that effectively bind to cell surface receptors and activate their functions. This unique platform has the potential to overcome the historical limitations of traditional IgG antibodies."

References:

[1] Sanofi and IGM Biosciences Announce Collaboration Agreement for Oncology, Immunology and Inflammation Targets. Retrieved March 29, 2022, from https://www.sanofi.com/en/media-room/press-releases/2022/2022-03-29-07-00-00-2411497

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