Sanofi and Blackstone Life Sciences Announce €300 Million Collaboration to Advance Subcutaneous Formulation of Sarclisa (Isatuximab) for Multiple Myeloma

On March 15, 2022, Sanofi and Blackstone Life Sciences announced a strategic collaboration. According to the terms of the agreement, Blackstone Life Sciences will pay up to 300 million euros to accelerate global pivotal studies and clinical development programs to evaluate the subcutaneous formulation of the anti-CD38 antibody Sarclisa (isatuximab) for the treatment of patients with multiple myeloma (MM). Sanofi will continue to fully manage the clinical programs. If successful, Blackstone Life Sciences will be eligible to receive royalties on future product sales. The pivotal study is expected to begin in the second half of 2022.

MM is the second most common hematologic malignancy, with more than 130,000 new cases diagnosed globally each year. Despite available treatments, MM remains an incurable malignancy and is associated with a significant patient burden. As there is no cure for MM, most patients will relapse. Relapsed MM refers to the recurrence of cancer after treatment or during remission. Refractory MM refers to cancer that does not respond to treatment or no longer responds.

Sarclisa is a monoclonal antibody that specifically binds to the CD38 receptor expressed on MM cells. It acts through multiple mechanisms of action, including programmed tumor cell death (apoptosis) and immunomodulatory activity. CD38 is highly and uniformly expressed on the surface of MM cells, making it a potential target for antibody-based therapies such as Sarclisa.

In the development of the Sarclisa subcutaneous formulation, Sanofi has collaborated with Enable Injections, a company specializing in innovative drug delivery technologies, to advance the development of subcutaneous administration of Sarclisa, aiming to provide a unique patient-centered treatment experience. To date, Sarclisa has been approved by regulatory authorities in multiple countries and regions as part of combination therapies in various forms when used with drugs such as lenalidomide, bortezomib, pomalidomide, and dexamethasone for intravenous administration to treat certain patients with relapsed multiple myeloma (MM).

References:

[1] Sanofi announces €300 million collaboration with Blackstone Life Sciences to advance an innovative treatment for multiple myeloma. Retrieved March 15, 2022, from https://www.sanofi.com/en/media-room/press-releases/2022/2022-03-15-07-00-00-2403030

(Original text has been abridged)

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