Add the skin microbiome to Sanofi’s growing list of targets for its new messenger RNA vaccines strategy. The pharmaceutical giant is acquiring Origimm Biotechnology, an early clinical-stage startup that is developing therapeutic vaccines to address diseases and infections associated with skin-colonizing microbes.
No financial terms were disclosed in the Wednesday announcement of the deal, which the companies expect to close early this month.
The research of Vienna, Austria-based Origimm research focuses on the discovery of virulent skin microbes that cause disease or lead to infection. Origimm says its proprietary technology selects proteins that bacteria use to invade human cells or evade detection by the immune system. The biotech then uses those proteins to teach the immune system of the skin to respond to the problem-causing bacteria.
Origimm’s first product candidate, ORI-001, is a therapeutic vaccine for acne vulgaris. That vaccine, based on engineered proteins, addresses Cutibacterium acnes, a bacterium that plays a key role in the development of moderate-to-severe acne. ORI-001 began preliminary clinical testing in the third quarter of this year. Sanofi said it is working to develop additional antigen versions that will employ mRNA. Sanofi said it expects those vaccines should be ready for Phase 1/2 testing in 2023.
Earlier this year, Paris-based Sanofi unveiled plans to invest heavily in mRNA by forming a division focused exclusively on researching and developing new mRNA vaccines. Sanofi has pledged to pump €400 million annually into this new mRNA Center of Excellence, which has outposts in the U.S. and France. As part of the mRNA strategy, Sanofi earlier this year acquired Translate Bio in a $3.2 billion deal. Since 2018, Translate Bio had been a partner to Sanofi in the development mRNA vaccines for various diseases.
Origimm was founded by biotech industry veteran Sanja Selak, the company’s CEO and chief scientific officer. She operated the business as a sole proprietorship from 2012 to 2014, according to the company’s website. Origimm became a limited liability company in 2014. Two years later, the startup announced the closing of a Series A round of financing without disclosing the amount.
Photo: CDC/Glen Lambert
