Sanofi in $675 million deal to expand multiple sclerosis franchise

French pharma major Sanofi (Euronext: SAN), which already has two blockbuster multiple sclerosis (MS) drugs in the form of Aubagio (teriflunomide) and Lemtrada (alemtuzumab), has entered into a new multi-million dollar deal to acquire rights to another MS candidate to expand its portfolio.

Sanofi will develop USA privately-held biotech firm Principia Biopharma's experimental oral treatment that shows promise in MS and, potentially, other central nervous system (CNS) diseases.

Under the license agreement signed this week, Sanofi will develop Principia's Bruton's tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitor (PRN2246), which was designed to access the brain and spinal cord by crossing the blood-brain barrier and impact immune cell and brain cell signalling. PRN2246 is currently in clinical development.