French pharma firm inks deal with tech provider
The partnership aims to progress drug discovery and development | Tech platform accelerates trials and provides higher quality trial data.
French healthcare company Sanofi has partnered with tech provider TrialSpark to enhance its drug discovery and development.
The announcement, made on October 6, explained that the two companies would focus their efforts on the acquisition/in-licensing and development of clinical-stage phase II and phase III drug candidates in areas of high unmet patient need.
TrialSpark’s technology platform is designed to optimise all aspects of clinical drug development to accelerate trials and provide higher quality trial data.
The New York based company said that it acquires clinical-stage drugs from pharmaceutical and biotech companies and develops them faster.
Formally launched last month, the partnership with Sanofi is targeting six transactions over the course of the next three years.
Alban de La Sablière, partnering head at Sanofi, said: ”We are excited to initiate this novel collaboration with TrialSpark, as another example of our commitment to innovation in the healthcare ecosystem.
“This collaboration will not only identify attractive late-stage assets, but will also use innovative development plans which could bring meaningful outcomes to patients in areas of mutual interest.”
In January this year, TrialSpark acquired worldwide rights to arthritis treatment, sprifermin, from Merck (known as MSD outside the US) Sprifermin is a treatment that is being evaluated as a potential treatment for osteoarthritis by promoting cartilage growth.
Benjamine Liu, TrialSpark's CEO and co-founder, said: "It is a privilege to partner with Sanofi to jointly acquire and develop new treatments. Sanofi is a world leader in drug development, with extensive global commercial expertise. TrialSpark is delighted to have such an exceptional partner to work together with on bringing new treatments to patients faster than ever before."
This isn’t the first time Sanofi has united with technology providers for drug discovery and development.
Earlier this year, Sanofi partnered with San Francisco-based Atomwise to use artificial intelligence for small drug discovery in a potential $1.2 billion deal. As part of the deal, Sanofi will pay $20 million upfront to identify, synthesise, and advance lead compounds for up to five targets which will be exclusive to Sanofi.
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