Sanofi has signed an agreement to acquire UK-based biotechnology company Vicebio’s share capital for $1.15bn upfront, to expand its vaccine development capabilities. The deal also includes additional milestone payments up to $450m contingent on development and regulatory successes.

Sanofi will gain access to Molecular Clamp technology that enables development of next-generation multivalent vaccines against respiratory pathogens and beyond -- Lead asset VXB-241 is a bivalent vaccine targeting Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) and Human Metapneumovirus (hMPV),