Sanofi has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Translate Bio, a clinical-stage mRNA therapeutics company, in a transaction valued at approximately $3.2 billion. Subject to customary closing conditions, the acquisition is expected to be completed in 3Q021.

In June 2018, Sanofi and Translate Bio entered a collaboration and exclusive license agreement to develop mRNA vaccines which was further expanded in 2020 to address current and future infectious diseases. There are two ongoing mRNA vaccine clinical trials under the collaboration, the COVID-19 vaccine Phase 1/2 study with results expected in 3Q21 and the mRNA seasonal influenza vaccine Phase 1 trial, with results due in 4Q21. The acquisition expands Sanofi’s establishment of its vaccines mRNA Center of Excellence.

On the therapeutic side, Translate Bio has an early-stage pipeline in cystic fibrosis and other rare pulmonary diseases. In addition, discovery work is ongoing in diseases that affect the liver, and Translate Bio’s MRTTM platform may be applied to various classes of treatments, such as therapeutic antibodies or vaccines in areas such as oncology. Sanofi’s recent acquisition of Tidal Therapeutics expanded the company’s mRNA research capabilities in both immuno-oncology and inflammatory diseases.