AstraZeneca plc (LON:AZN), Swedish Orphan Biovitrum AB (publ) (Sobi) and Sanofi have updated and simplified their contractual arrangements relating to the development and commercialisation of nirsevimab in the US. Given the upcoming launch of nirsevimab in the US and other markets, simplification of the prior arrangements clarifies the roles and responsibilities of relevant parties.
Under the updated arrangements, Sobi has entered into a direct relationship with Sanofi, replacing the previous participation agreement with AstraZeneca entered into in November 2018. Under the previous agreement, from the day of the transaction with Sobi, AstraZeneca had to provision the risk adjusted value of the discounted cash flow of future payments to be made to Sobi as a liability. As a result of this simplification agreement, Sanofi will pay royalties to Sobi as US nirsevimab sales arise, and the liability related to future obligations is eliminated. AstraZeneca will record a gain of $0.7 billion, to be recognised in Core Other operating income in 2023. This does not impact AstraZeneca’s financial guidance for 2023.
About nirsevimab
Nirsevimab is a single dose long-acting antibody, developed and commercialised in partnership by AstraZeneca and Sanofi using AstraZeneca’s YTE technology. It is designed to protect infants entering or during their first respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) season and for children up to 24 months of age who remain vulnerable to severe RSV disease through their second RSV season. Nirsevimab has been developed to offer newborns and infants direct RSV protection via an antibody to help prevent lower respiratory tract disease (LRTD) caused by RSV. Monoclonal antibodies do not require the activation of the immune system to help offer timely, rapid and direct protection against disease.1
In November 2022, Beyfortus was approved by the European Commission and by the UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).2-3
Sanofi Alliance
In March 2017, AstraZeneca and Sanofi announced an agreement to develop and commercialise nirsevimab. Under the terms of the agreement, AstraZeneca leads development and manufacturing activities, and Sanofi leads commercialisation activities and records revenue. Under the terms of the global agreement, Sanofi made an upfront payment of €120m, has paid a development milestone of €30m and will pay further milestones subject to achievement of certain development and sales-related milestones. The two companies share costs and profits. Revenue from the agreement is reported as Alliance Revenue and Collaboration Revenue in the Company’s financial statements.
Sobi Transaction
In November 2018, AstraZeneca announced that it had agreed to sell the US commercial rights for Synagis (palivizumab), and the right to participate in the US profits or losses for nirsevimab, to Sobi (the 2018 announcement).
