Sanofi signed a contract with Kiadis, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical establishment developing advanced ‘off the shelf’ natural killer (NK) cell-based drugs for the treating of severe diseases. According to the deal, the former will make a public offer to take over the complete share capital of Kiadis for EUR 5.45 per share. 

With this agreement, Kiadis will leverage the development, research, and commercial expertise of Sanofi to advance its pipeline including NK cell-based medicines to treat patients enduring hematopoietic stem cell transplant, solid and liquid tumors, and infectious disease. Sanofi accredited the pre-clinical K-NK004 initiative of Kiadis’ in July 2020 for the possible amalgamation for multiple myeloma.

Once the public offer is completed, Sanofi will deliver the capabilities and resources needed to speed up the development of ongoing Kiadis programs to treat solid cancers, blood tumors, and infectious diseases enhancing their potential to benefit patients.

Kiadis’ CEO, Arthur Lahr claimed that by joining hands with Sanofi, the company can fulfill its aim of providing novel cell-based medicines to patients suffering from severe disease. He added that post the discontinuation of its chief product candidate and successive reorganization in 2019, they restarted Kiadis in 2020 as a completely new enterprise focusing only on the patented and distinguished NK-cell platform that the company attained by acquiring Cytosen Therapeutics.

The offer by Sanofi is a representation of the exclusivity of Kiadis’ NK-cell platform and the fast success of its transformation. Giving further details, he stated that the Kiadis Boards believe that Sanofi has financial strength and resources to speed-up its NK-cell products’ development to benefit patients. The company believes that transaction signifies captivating value to shareholders and mirrors the potential of its pipeline and platform which gives a risk profile typical to biotech along with capital essential to execute our business strategy.

Sanofi’ Global Head of Research & Development, M.D., Ph.D., John Reed expressed his affirmation about broad application of Kiadis ‘off the shelf’ K-NK cell technology platform against solid and liquid tumors, and build collaborations with the emerging immuno-oncology pipeline of Sanofi, giving the company opportunities to follow potential best-in-disease approaches.

Source: https://www.sanofi.com/en/media-room/press-releases/2020/2020-11-02-07-15-00