Sanofi to buy Vigil Neuroscience in US$470M Alzheimer’s deal

FRANCE— French pharmaceutical giant Sanofi has announced its agreement to acquire Vigil Neuroscience, a clinical-stage biotech company, in a deal valued at approximately US$470 million.

This acquisition is set to expand Sanofi’s pipeline with a promising investigational treatment for Alzheimer’s disease, VG-3927.

Under the terms of the agreement, Sanofi will purchase all outstanding shares of Vigil Neuroscience at US$8 per share in cash.

In addition, Vigil’s shareholders will be entitled to receive a contingent value right (CVR) of US$2 per share, payable upon the first commercial sale of VG-3927, provided this milestone is achieved within a specified timeframe.

Including this potential future payment, the total equity value of the deal could reach about US$600 million.

The transaction is expected to close in the third quarter of 2025 and is not anticipated to affect Sanofi’s financial outlook for the year.

This acquisition aligns with Sanofi’s strategic focus on neurology, one of its four key therapeutic areas.

By adding VG-3927, an oral small molecule designed to activate TREM2—a receptor on brain immune cells called microglia—Sanofi aims to enhance its early-stage neurology pipeline.

Activation of TREM2 is believed to support microglial functions such as debris clearance and neural protection, which may slow neurodegeneration in Alzheimer’s disease.

Sanofi’s interest in Vigil Neuroscience follows a $40 million strategic equity investment made in June 2024.

This earlier investment granted Sanofi exclusive rights to negotiate for the license to develop, manufacture, and commercialize VG-3927, underscoring the company’s commitment to strengthening its neurological drug portfolio.

It is important to note that Vigil’s second molecule program, VGL101 (also known as Iluzanebart), is excluded from this acquisition.

This program will be returned to its original licensor, Amgen, prior to the closing of the deal. 

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