Sanofi and Evotec AG, a Hamburg, Germany-based drug discovery and development company, have agreed to support Evotec in opening a new innovation platform near Lyon, France for infectious disease research and development (R&D).

Sanofi plans to license most of its infectious disease research and early-stage development portfolio and transfer its infectious disease research unit to Evotec. The transaction excludes the vaccine R&D unit and related projects.

Sanofi will pay Evotec an initial, one-time, cash upfront payment of EUR 60 million ($73 million) and provide further long-term funding to support the portfolio. Sanofi will retain certain option rights on the development, manufacturing, and commercialization of anti-infective products and will continue to be involved in infectious disease through its vaccines research and development and its global health programs.

Under the agreement, Evotec will integrate Sanofi’s infectious disease research unit, which includes more than 100 employees, into its global drug discovery and development operations. The transferred positions will be associated with specific commitments of employment for 5 years and will continue to be based near Lyon, France.

Evotec says it will also hold open collaborations for infectious diseases with other pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, foundations, academia, and government agencies.

Source: Evotec