September 11, 2014
By Mark Terry, BioSpace.com Breaking News Staff
The head of Genzyme‘s multiple sclerosis (MS) unit, Bill Sibold, recently indicated that the company is “very active” in looking for companies to acquire to bolster is MS franchise.
Genzyme, a rare drug unit of Sanofi , just announced positive interim results from the second year of an extension of study of its multiple sclerosis drug Lemtrada (alemtuzumab). Lemtrada is sold in Europe and was approved in the U.S in December 2014.
The Phase III trials of Lemtrada were randomized, two-year pivotal studies that compared treatment with Lemtrada to treatment with high-dose subcutaneous interferon beta-1a (Rebif). The patients involved had relapsing-remitting MS who were either newly diagnosed or had relapsed after prior therapy. The study found relapse rates and sustained accumulation of disability remained low.
Genzyme also has another MS drug, Aubagio, which was approved by the FDA two years ago. Genzyme President and CEO David Meeker recently noted that, “Between clinical trials and commercial use in more than 40 countries, approximately 30,000 patients have now been treated with Aubagio. With Lemtrada, we have also made significant progress with approvals in more than 30 countries.”
Genzyme is currently presenting data regarding its MS pipeline at the 30th Congress of the European Committee for Research and Treatment in Multiple Sclerosis (ECTRIMS), being held in Boston from Sept. 10-13.
Other MS pipeline studies include Vatelizumab, in partnership with Glenmark Pharmaceuticals;GZ402668, currently in Phase I clinical development; R&D programs looking at drugs that promote remyelination; and collaborations with Brigham and Women’s Hospital and the Cleveland Clinic.
Although Genzyme, and as a result, Sanofi, are doing well with MS product organic growth, the company is also looking for potential acquisition targets to bolster external growth. Sibold declined to cite potential targets, but indicated they were looking for companies with truly innovative products.
Sibold, when asked what his budget for acquisitions was, indicated that being a part of pharmaceutical giant Sanofi made that much easier. “If the opportunity is the right opportunity, we’ll evaluate it,” he said. “We’re well resourced to execute our strategy.”
Genzyme was acquired by Sanofi in 2011 for $20.1 billion. Analysts expect Aubagio to achieve about $1.2 billion in sales by 2018, significantly higher than their predictions for Lemtrada of $437 million. In its Q2 2014 financial reports, Sanofi announced group sales rose by 6.4 percent to €8,075 million, driven by Genzyme, with an increase of 29.1 percent.
Sales grew 27.3 percent (to €235 million) in the U.S., 47.3 percent (to €144 million) in Emerging Markets and 22.9 percent (to €209 million) in Western Europe. First-half sales of Genzyme increased by 25.4 percent to €1,209 million.
