Sanofi is acquiring Vigil Neuroscience, a biotech firm focused on novel neurodegenerative disease therapies, to boost its early-stage neurology pipeline.
Sanofi logo at one of skyscraper. Sanofi is a French biopharma company | Image Credit: © Robert - stock.adobe.com
Sanofi announced via a news release dated May 21, 2025, that it has signed an agreement to acquire Vigil Neuroscience, Inc., a clinical-stage biotechnology company specializing in therapies for neurodegenerative diseases (1). The acquisition aligns with Sanofi’s strategic emphasis on neurology and is intended to enhance its capabilities in early-stage drug development within this therapeutic area.
Vigil’s lead candidate, VG-3927, is an oral small molecule that acts as a TREM2 agonist. This compound is being prepared for a Phase II clinical trial in Alzheimer’s disease, according to the release (1). TREM2 activation is hypothesized to enhance the neuroprotective functions of microglia by promoting their migration to sites of neural injury, increasing their phagocytic activity, and supporting cell survival and proliferation. These functions are considered critical in mitigating chronic inflammation and debris accumulation in neurodegenerative conditions.
·Sanofi acquires clinical-stage biotech Vigil Neuroscience to expand its neurology drug pipeline focused on neurodegenerative disease therapies.
·VG-3927, Vigil's lead candidate, is a TREM2 agonist targeting microglial function; Sanofi plans to advance it into Phase II trials for Alzheimer’s.
·The deal reflects Sanofi’s strategic use of early investments to secure biotech assets and accelerate central nervous system drug development and manufacturing.
“This acquisition is fully supporting Sanofi’s strategic focus on neurology and on advancing science and leveraging our expertise in immunology to solve areas of critical unmet need,” said Houman Ashrafian, MD, PhD, head of research and development at Sanofi (1). TREM2 represents a compelling target at the intersection of immune dysregulation and neurodegeneration, particularly in people living with Alzheimer’s because they face devastating cognitive decline with limited treatment options. Vigil’s expertise is complementary to our capabilities in neurology and reinforces our dedication to developing innovative medicines to improve people’s lives. Vigil’s team are a welcome addition, and we look forward to working with them and the patient community.”
The news release notes that Vigil’s research is focused on the role of microglia in central nervous system disorders (1). In neurodegenerative diseases, microglial dysfunction contributes to progressive neuronal damage. Current Alzheimer’s treatments offer limited efficacy and stringent eligibility, underscoring the need for novel therapeutic approaches.
Sanofi’s acquisition follows a strategic $40 million investment made in June 2024, which included the exclusive right of first negotiation for VG-3927 (2). The decision to proceed with the full acquisition reflects Sanofi’s broader strategy of early equity investments to secure potential assets in critical areas of unmet medical need (1).
“We are incredibly proud of the extraordinary and diverse team at Vigil and the progress we have made in developing innovative TREM2-based therapeutics. We look forward to joining forces with Sanofi's team to leverage Sanofi’s resources, broad platform and far-reaching network to fully unlock and accelerate the development of VG-3927 for the potential treatment of Alzheimer’s disease—a devastating disease with significant unmet need,” said Ivana Magovčević-Liebisch, PhD, JD, president and chief executive officer of Vigil.
The transaction will not include VGL101, Vigil’s second investigational molecule. The deal is expected to close in the third quarter of 2025 and will not impact Sanofi’s financial guidance for the year.
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