Sanofi to acquire Vigil Neuroscience, adding Alzheimer’s disease candidate to early-stage pipeline
Ella Day | May 23, 2025 | News story | Mergers and Acquisitions, Research and Development | Alzheimer's disease, Neurology, Sanofi, Vigil Neuroscience, neurodegenerative diseases
Sanofi has announced an agreement to acquire Vigil Neuroscience, a biotech company focused on therapies for neurodegenerative diseases. The deal will add VG-3927, a candidate for Alzheimer’s disease (AD) that is ready for a phase 2 trial, to Sanofi’s early-stage neurology portfolio.
VG-3927 is an oral small molecule agonist of TREM2, a receptor involved in modulating microglial activity. Activating TREM2 is thought to improve clearance of cellular debris and reduce neuroinflammation in the brain, processes disrupted in AD.
“This acquisition supports Sanofi’s strategic focus on neurology and immunology,” said Houman Ashrafian, head of research and development at Sanofi. “TREM2 is a promising target that bridges immune dysregulation and neurodegeneration.”
The transaction follows a $40m equity investment Sanofi made in Vigil in 2024, which granted the company negotiation rights for VG-3927. Under the current agreement, Sanofi will acquire all outstanding shares for $8 per share, valuing Vigil at approximately $470m. Shareholders will also receive a contingent value right worth an additional $2 per share, which is conditional on the first commercial sale of VG-3927.
Vigil’s second programme, VGL101, is excluded from the deal. The transaction is expected to close in the third quarter of 2025, pending shareholder and regulatory approvals.
Current therapies for AD offer limited clinical benefit, with strict eligibility criteria. Sanofi’s acquisition underlines its commitment to developing new treatment options in areas of high unmet clinical need.
Ella Day
23/5/25
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