Sanofi Signs On Two New Partners

Sanofi-Aventis will work with Ascenta Therapeutics to develop orally active small-molecule drug candidates that block a protein-protein interaction that suppresses tumor-cell death. Ascenta could receive up to $398 million if compounds blocking the interaction between the proteins HDM2 and p53 reach the market. In a separate deal, Sanofi’s vaccines division will work with French biotech Vivalis to develop fully human monoclonal antibodies against a range of infectious disease targets. Vivalis gets $3.6 million up front, research funding, and up to $42 million for each infectious disease target pursued.