Latest news with #TREM2
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Sanofi buys Vigil Neuroscience for $470m in Alzheimer's push
Sanofi has agreed to acquire Vigil Neuroscience in a $470m deal, nearly a year after investing an initial $40m in the company. The deal will see Sanofi acquire all outstanding common shares of US-based Vigil for $8 per share in cash at closing. Virgil's shares closed at $2.31 on 21 May, meaning Sanofi is paying a premium of 246%. Vigil has a current market cap of $107.8m. Part of the deal also includes an additional $2 cash payment per share upon the first commercial sale of Vigil's Alzheimer's asset, VG-3927. Although Vigil has two candidates in its pipeline, Sanofi's buyout centred around the potential of VG-3927. Indeed, Vigil's other programme – the fully human monoclonal antibody iluzanebart dubbed VGL101 – is not part of the acquisition and will return to its original licensor, Amgen. Sanofi has not hidden its high regard for VG-3927, with the $40m investment made in June 2024 giving the French drugmaker the exclusive right of first negotiation regarding its licensing. With the buyout of Vigil, Sanofi now has full control of VG-3927, including research, development, manufacturing, and commercialisation duties. VG-3927 is an oral small-molecule agonist of triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells 2 (TREM2). Evidence so far suggests that activating TREM2 could enhance the neuroprotective function of microglia – the resident immune cells of the central nervous system – in Alzheimer's. Indeed, genetic factors such as rare variants of TREM2 strongly increase the risk of developing the disease. Vigil has reported positive data from a Phase I clinical trial (NCT06343636) evaluating VG-3927 in healthy volunteers. The drug demonstrated a favourable safety and tolerability profile across all cohorts – including the elderly cohort – of 115 participants. Vigil planned to advance the therapy into a Phase II trial in Q3 2025, as per an April update. Sanofi did not comment on whether the timeline will be affected by the acquisition, confirming only that it would go ahead into a Phase II clinical study. 'TREM2 represents a compelling target at the intersection of immune dysregulation and neurodegeneration, particularly in people living with Alzheimer's because they face devastating cognitive decline with limited treatment options,' said Houman Ashrafian, Sanofi's head of research and development. Currently approved therapies such as Eisai and Biogen's Leqembi (lecanamab) and Eli Lilly's Kisunla (donanemab) do not stop or reverse disease progression. While gaining approvals in multiple regions, the drugs have struggled in national coverage schemes due to questions around cost efficiency. Sanofi believes its new asset can fill this unmet need for Alzheimer's patients, along with delivering a 'safer and [more] convenient' option. 'Vigil's expertise is complementary to our capabilities in neurology and reinforces our dedication to developing innovative medicines to improve people's lives. Vigil's team are a welcome addition, and we look forward to working with them and the patient community,' Ashrafian added. Vigil is not the only pharma company developing a TREM2 candidate for Alzheimer's. Novartis is gearing up to advance its candidate VHB937 into Phase II development in H2 2025. William Blair analyst Myles Minter believes the deal price for Vigil 'is fairly valued', adding that the company would likely not have agreed to the buyout if the data for VGL101 was promising. 'For VG-3927, we see the orally administered small-molecule programme as differentiated from other TREM2 targeting treatments, and if successful, we believe it could lead to a paradigm shift in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease,' Minter added in a research note. "Sanofi buys Vigil Neuroscience for $470m in Alzheimer's push" was originally created and published by Pharmaceutical Technology, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Vigil Neuroscience to be acquired by Sanofi for $8.00 per share
Vigil Neuroscience (VIGL) and Sanofi (SNY) announced that it has entered into a definitive merger agreement pursuant to which Sanofi will acquire Vigil for an upfront payment of $8.00 per share of common stock in cash. Vigil shareholders will also receive a non-tradeable contingent value right entitling the holder to potentially receive an additional $2.00 per share in cash payable following the first commercial sale of VG-3927 if achieved within a specific period. The total equity value of the transaction, including the potential CVR payment, represents approximately $600 million on a fully diluted basis. 'We are incredibly proud of the legacy we have built at Vigil and today's announcement is a testament to the value of our TREM2 agonist pipeline,' said Ivana Magovevi-Liebisch, Ph.D., J.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of Vigil. 'Sanofi's development capabilities, therapeutic expertise, global footprint, and financial strength provide the greatest opportunity to further the development of VG-3927 for the potential treatment of Alzheimer's disease and potentially bring this important and differentiated therapy to those struggling with the immense burden of this disease.' Easily unpack a company's performance with TipRanks' new KPI Data for smart investment decisions Receive undervalued, market resilient stocks right to your inbox with TipRanks' Smart Value Newsletter Published first on TheFly – the ultimate source for real-time, market-moving breaking financial news. Try Now>> See Insiders' Hot Stocks on TipRanks >> Read More on VIGL: Disclaimer & DisclosureReport an Issue Vigil Neuroscience Inc trading halted, news pending Vigil Neuroscience Advances Clinical Trials and Financial Stability Vigil Neuroscience reports Q1 EPS (49c) vs. (50c) last year Vigil Neuroscience sees cash runway into 2026 Vigil presents data on oral small molecule program including VG-3927 Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Sanofi Boosts Alzheimer's Pipeline With Vigil Neuroscience Acquisition
Vigil Neuroscience, Inc. (NASDAQ:VIGL) on Wednesday disclosed that it entered a deal to be acquired by Sanofi (NASDAQ:SNY) for an equity value of approximately $470 million (on a fully diluted basis). Per the terms, Sanofi will pay $8.00 per share in cash to acquire Vigil. In addition, shareholders will be granted a non-tradeable contingent value right (CVR), which could provide an extra $2.00 per share in cash if VG-3927 achieves its first commercial sale within a designated timeframe. The total equity value of the transaction, including the potential CVR payment, represents approximately $600 million on a fully diluted acquisition, expected to close in the third quarter of 2025, strengthens Sanofi's neurology pipeline with VG-3927, an oral TREM2 agonist for Alzheimer's disease, addressing a critical unmet need in treatment. Ivana Magovčević-Liebisch, Ph.D., J.D., President and CEO of Vigil, said, 'Sanofi's development capabilities, therapeutic expertise, global footprint, and financial strength provide the greatest opportunity to further the development of VG-3927 for the potential treatment of Alzheimer's disease and potentially bring this important and differentiated therapy to those struggling with the immense burden of this disease.' Houman Ashrafian, M.D., Ph.D., Head of Research and Development of Sanofi, added, 'TREM2 represents a compelling target at the intersection of immune dysregulation and neurodegeneration, particularly in people living with Alzheimer's because they face devastating cognitive decline with limited treatment options.' In April 2025, Vigil Neuroscience presented new data from its oral small molecule program, featuring its lead candidate, VG-3927, through two oral presentations at the AD/PD 2025 International Conference in Austria. At that time, Ivana Magovčević-Liebisch said the two presentations highlight the strong potential of VG-3927. This oral, brain-penetrant TREM2 agonist showed positive results in Phase 1, with good safety, tolerability, and drug activity. She further explained that VG-3927 could offer a new way to treat Alzheimer's disease by targeting more than just amyloid buildup. Vigil plans to begin Phase 2 trials of VG-3927, the only once-daily oral TREM2 agonist currently in clinical development, later this year. Vigil's monoclonal antibody program, Iluzanebart (VGL101), is excluded from the acquisition by Sanofi. Before the transaction is finalized, the exclusive license agreement with Amgen for VGL101 will be terminated, and the rights to the program will be returned to Amgen, its original licensor. Price Action: SNY shares were trading lower by 0.36% to $52.71 premarket at last check Thursday, and VIGL shares traded higher by 245.9% at $7.99. Read Next:Image by HJBC via Shutterstock UNLOCKED: 5 NEW TRADES EVERY WEEK. Click now to get top trade ideas daily, plus unlimited access to cutting-edge tools and strategies to gain an edge in the markets. Get the latest stock analysis from Benzinga? SANOFI (SNY): Free Stock Analysis Report This article Sanofi Boosts Alzheimer's Pipeline With Vigil Neuroscience Acquisition originally appeared on © 2025 Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Business Insider
22-05-2025
- Business
- Business Insider
Vigil Neuroscience to be acquired by Sanofi for $8.00 per share
Vigil Neuroscience (VIGL) and Sanofi (SNY) announced that it has entered into a definitive merger agreement pursuant to which Sanofi will acquire Vigil for an upfront payment of $8.00 per share of common stock in cash. Vigil shareholders will also receive a non-tradeable contingent value right entitling the holder to potentially receive an additional $2.00 per share in cash payable following the first commercial sale of VG-3927 if achieved within a specific period. The total equity value of the transaction, including the potential CVR payment, represents approximately $600 million on a fully diluted basis. 'We are incredibly proud of the legacy we have built at Vigil and today's announcement is a testament to the value of our TREM2 agonist pipeline,' said Ivana Magovevi-Liebisch, Ph.D., J.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of Vigil. 'Sanofi's development capabilities, therapeutic expertise, global footprint, and financial strength provide the greatest opportunity to further the development of VG-3927 for the potential treatment of Alzheimer's disease and potentially bring this important and differentiated therapy to those struggling with the immense burden of this disease.' Confident Investing Starts Here:
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Vigil Neuroscience Enters into Definitive Merger Agreement to be Acquired by Sanofi
- Vigil's shareholders to receive up to $10.00 per share in cash, comprised of $8.00 per share in cash at closing and a non-tradeable contingent value right of $2.00 per share in cash following the first commercial sale of VG-3927 - - Acquisition expected to strengthen development path for the oral small molecule TREM2 agonist program, including VG-3927, a Phase 2-ready clinical candidate for potential treatment of Alzheimer's disease – - Companies expect transaction to close in third quarter of 2025 - WATERTOWN, Mass., May 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Vigil Neuroscience, Inc. (Nasdaq: VIGL), a clinical-stage biotechnology company committed to harnessing the power of microglia for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases and Sanofi (NASDAQ: SNY), today announced that it has entered into a definitive merger agreement pursuant to which Sanofi will acquire Vigil for an upfront payment of $8.00 per share of common stock in cash. Vigil shareholders will also receive a non-tradeable contingent value right (CVR) entitling the holder to potentially receive an additional $2.00 per share in cash payable following the first commercial sale of VG-3927 if achieved within a specific period. The total equity value of the transaction, including the potential CVR payment, represents approximately $600 million on a fully diluted basis. "We are incredibly proud of the legacy we have built at Vigil and today's announcement is a testament to the value of our TREM2 agonist pipeline,' said Ivana Magovčević-Liebisch, Ph.D., J.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of Vigil. 'Sanofi's development capabilities, therapeutic expertise, global footprint, and financial strength provide the greatest opportunity to further the development of VG-3927 for the potential treatment of Alzheimer's disease and potentially bring this important and differentiated therapy to those struggling with the immense burden of this disease.' Activating TREM2 is expected to enhance the neuroprotective function of microglia in Alzheimer's disease. In neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, microglial activation is dysregulated, leading to debris accumulation, chronic inflammation and neurodegeneration in the central nervous system. Activation of TREM2 has shown to promote the migration of microglial cells to sites of injury, enhance their capability for phagocytosis, proliferation, and survival. Consequently, this facilitates the prevention of neural degeneration that is frequently associated with adult-onset neurodegenerative diseases. Currently approved therapies for Alzheimer's disease do not stop or reverse the disease progression and there are stringent eligibility requirements for treatment. There is a critical need to develop more efficacious, safer, and convenient options for people living with Alzheimer's disease. 'Sanofi's complementary capabilities and commitment to bring innovative therapies to patients align with our mission and what we have passionately been working toward over the past five years,' continued Magovčević-Liebisch. 'We want to thank Vigil's exceptional employees for their unrelenting dedication and our patient communities for their steadfast engagement, to whom I extend my deepest gratitude. Together, we look forward to following Sanofi's journey in advancing next-generation small molecule TREM2 therapies for severe neurodegenerative diseases and potentially offering new treatment options to patients.' 'This acquisition is fully supporting Sanofi's strategic focus on neurology and on advancing science and leveraging our expertise in immunology to solve areas of critical unmet need,' said Houman Ashrafian, M.D., Ph.D., Head of Research and Development of Sanofi. 'TREM2 represents a compelling target at the intersection of immune dysregulation and neurodegeneration, particularly in people living with Alzheimer's because they face devastating cognitive decline with limited treatment options. Vigil's expertise is complementary to our capabilities in neurology and reinforces our dedication to developing innovative medicines to improve people's lives. Vigil's team are a welcome addition, and we look forward to working with them and the patient community.' Terms of the Transaction Under the terms of the merger agreement, Sanofi and Vigil have agreed to the following: Sanofi will acquire all outstanding common shares of Vigil for $8.00 per share in cash at closing, representing an equity value of approximately $470 million (on a fully diluted basis) In addition, Vigil's shareholders will receive a non-transferrable CVR per Vigil share, which will entitle its holder to receive a deferred cash payment of $2.00, conditioned upon the first commercial sale for VG-3927. Iluzanebart (VGL101), Vigil's monoclonal antibody program, is not being acquired by Sanofi, and its return to Amgen, the original licensor, and the termination of the exclusive license agreement with Amgen solely with respect to VGL101, will occur prior to the closing of the transaction. Bruce Booth, Atlas Ventures, and Ivana Magovčević-Liebisch have signed voting and support agreements in favor of the deal. The shares subject to these agreements represent a total of approximately 16% of Vigil's total common shares outstanding. The closing of the acquisition is subject to other conditions customary for such a transaction, including the approval of holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Vigil common stock, the expiration or termination of the waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, and other customary conditions. Sanofi and Vigil expect the transaction to close in the third quarter of 2025. AdvisorsCenterview Partners LLC is acting as exclusive financial advisor to Vigil, and Goodwin Procter LLP is serving as legal counsel. About SanofiWe are an innovative global healthcare company, driven by one purpose: we chase the miracles of science to improve people's lives. Our team, across the world, is dedicated to transforming the practice of medicine by working to turn the impossible into the possible. We provide potentially life-changing treatment options and life-saving vaccine protection to millions of people globally, while putting sustainability and social responsibility at the center of our ambitions. Sanofi is listed on EURONEXT: SAN and NASDAQ: SNY. About Vigil NeuroscienceVigil Neuroscience is a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on developing treatments for both rare and common neurodegenerative diseases by restoring the vigilance of microglia, the sentinel immune cells of the brain. Vigil is utilizing the tools of modern neuroscience drug development across multiple therapeutic modalities in its efforts to develop precision-based therapies to improve the lives of patients and their families. Iluzanebart, Vigil's lead clinical candidate, is a fully human monoclonal antibody agonist targeting triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells 2 (TREM2) in people with adult-onset leukoencephalopathy with axonal spheroids and pigmented glia (ALSP), a rare and fatal neurodegenerative disease. Vigil is also developing VG-3927, a novel small molecule TREM2 agonist, to treat common neurodegenerative diseases associated with microglial dysfunction, with an initial focus on Alzheimer's disease (AD). Forward Looking Statements This communication includes certain disclosures that contain express or implied forward-looking statements related to Sanofi, Vigil and the acquisition of Vigil by Sanofi that are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the federal securities laws, including, without limitation, express or implied forward-looking statements regarding: Vigil's strategy, business plans and focus; the potential therapeutic benefit of the Company's product candidates, including iluzanebart and VG-3927; the return of VGL101 to Amgen (VGL101 Return); the progress and timing of the clinical development of Vigil's product candidates and programs; beliefs about observations made analyzing preclinical study and clinical trial data to date; and the future operations and performance of Sanofi and Vigil. All statements other than statements of historical fact are statements that could be deemed forward-looking statements, including all statements regarding the intent, belief or current expectation of the companies and members of their senior management teams. Words such as 'will,' 'could,' 'would,' 'should,' 'expect,' 'plan,' 'anticipate,' 'intend,' 'believe,' 'estimate,' 'predict,' 'project,' 'potential,' 'continue,' 'target,' variations of such words, and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. Examples of such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, express or implied: statements regarding the transaction and related matters, expected timelines for completing the transaction, prospective performance and opportunities, post-closing operations and the outlook for the companies' businesses; statements of targets, plans, objectives or goals for future operations, including those related to Sanofi's and Vigil's products, potential therapeutic benefit, product research, product development, product introductions and product approvals as well as cooperation in relation thereto; statements containing projections of or targets for revenues, costs, income (or loss), earnings per share, capital expenditures, dividends, capital structure, net financials and other financial measures; statements regarding future economic performance, future actions and outcomes of any potential future legal proceedings; and statements regarding the assumptions underlying or relating to such statements. These statements are based on current beliefs, judgments and assumptions based upon information currently available to Sanofi and Vigil management and utilized to develop plans, estimates and projections. By their very nature, forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties, both general and specific. Sanofi and Vigil each caution that a number of important factors, including those described in this document, could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated in any forward-looking statements. Factors that may affect future results and may cause these forward-looking statements to be inaccurate include, but are not limited to: the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstance that could give rise to the termination of the transaction; the possibility that competing offers will be made; the possibility that various closing conditions for the transaction may not be satisfied or waived, including that a governmental entity may prohibit, delay or refuse to grant approval for the consummation of the transaction (or only grant approval subject to adverse conditions or limitations) or the receipt of the requisite approval of Vigil's stockholders; the possibility that the proposed transaction may not be completed in the time frame expected by Sanofi and Vigil, or at all; the possibility that the VGL101 Return may not be completed in the anticipated time frame or at all; failure to realize the anticipated benefits of the proposed transaction in the time frame expected, or at all; the effects of the transaction on relationships with employees, other business partners or governmental entities; potential adverse reactions or changes to business relationships resulting from the announcement or completion of the proposed transaction; significant or unexpected costs, charges or expenses resulting from the proposed transaction; negative effects of this announcement or the consummation of the proposed transaction on the market price of Sanofi's shares or Vigil's common stock and/or Sanofi's or Vigil's operating results; potential difficulties in employee retention as a result of the announcement and pendency of the proposed transaction; the difficulty of predicting the timing or outcome of regulatory approvals or actions; the risks related to non-achievement of the CVR milestone and that holders of the CVRs will not receive payments in respect of the CVRs; other business effects, including the effects of industry, economic or political conditions outside of Vigil's or Sanofi's control; potentially significant political, trade or regulatory developments and other circumstances beyond Vigil's control, including government shutdowns, layoffs, voluntary resignations and reorganizations, new legislation and executive orders, trade disputes and tariffs; transaction costs; actual or contingent liabilities; risk of litigation and/or regulatory actions related to the proposed transaction; the outcome of any legal proceedings that may be instituted against the parties and others related to the proposed transaction; adverse impacts on business, operating results or financial condition in the future due to pandemics, epidemics or outbreaks and their impact on Sanofi's and Vigil's respective businesses, operations, supply chain, patient enrollment and retention, clinical trials, strategy, goals and anticipated milestone; government-mandated or market-driven price decreases for Sanofi's or Vigil's products; introduction of competing products; reliance on information technology; Sanofi's or Vigil's ability to successfully market current and new products; Sanofi's, Vigil's and their collaborators' ability to continue to conduct research and clinical programs; Vigil's ability to successfully demonstrate the efficacy and safety of its product candidates, the therapeutic potential of its product candidates and the preclinical or clinical results for its product candidates, which may not support further development of such product candidates; comments, feedback and actions of regulatory agencies; exposure to product liability and legal proceedings and investigations; and other risks and uncertainties detailed from time to time in Vigil's periodic reports filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and Vigil's other filings with the SEC. Any forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this communication and are made based on the current beliefs, judgments and assumptions based upon information currently available to Sanofi's and Vigil's management. Forward-looking statements contained in this announcement are made as of this date, and Sanofi and Vigil undertake no duty to update such information except as required under applicable law. Readers should not rely upon the information on this page as current or accurate after its publication date. Additional Information And Where To Find It In connection with the proposed transaction between Vigil and Sanofi, Vigil will file with the SEC a proxy statement on Schedule 14A (Proxy Statement) relating to a special meeting of its stockholders. Additionally, Vigil may file other relevant materials with the SEC in connection with the proposed transaction. VIGIL'S STOCKHOLDERS AND OTHER INVESTORS ARE URGED TO READ THE PROXY STATEMENT AND ANY OTHER RELEVANT MATERIALS FILED OR THAT WILL BE FILED WITH THE SEC, AS WELL AS ANY AMENDMENTS OR SUPPLEMENTS TO THESE MATERIALS AND DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE THEREIN, CAREFULLY AND IN THEIR ENTIRETY WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE BECAUSE THEY CONTAIN OR WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION AND RELATED MATTERS. The definitive Proxy Statement will be mailed or otherwise made available to Vigil's securityholders. Investors and securityholders will be able to obtain a copy of the Proxy Statement as well as other filings containing information about the proposed transaction that are filed by Vigil or Sanofi with the SEC, free of charge on EDGAR at Participants in the SolicitationVigil and certain of its directors and executive officers may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from the stockholders of Vigil in respect of the proposed transaction and any other matters to be voted on at the special meeting. Information about Vigil's directors and executive officers, including a description of their interests, by security holdings or otherwise, in the proposed transaction will be included in the Proxy Statement. Vigil stockholders may obtain additional information regarding the participants in the solicitation of proxies in connection with the proposed transaction by reading the Proxy Statement and any other relevant documents that are filed or will be filed with the SEC relating to the proposed transaction. You may obtain free copies of these document using the sources indicated above. Internet Posting of InformationVigil routinely posts information that may be important to investors in the 'Investors' section of its website at The Company encourages investors and potential investors to consult our website regularly for important information about Vigil. Investor Contact:Leah GibsonVice President, Investor Relations & Corporate CommunicationsVigil Neuroscience, Media Contact:Megan McGrathCTD Comms, LLCmegan@ in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
