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

FRANCE – French pharmaceutical giant Sanofi is set to acquire Vigil Neuroscience in a US$ 470 million deal, strengthening its focus on Alzheimer’s disease treatments.

The acquisition revives interest in TREM2-targeted therapies, which had lost momentum following last year’s setback from AbbVie and Alector’s failed candidate in the same space.

Sanofi will pay US$ 8 per share, representing a 250% premium over Vigil’s latest valuation. Shareholders could receive an additional US$ 2 per share, contingent upon the first sale of VG-3927, an experimental TREM2 agonist aimed at treating neurodegenerative diseases. With this added value, the total deal could reach US$ 600 million.

Strategic expansion in neuroscience

Sanofi’s investment aligns with its neurology strategy, reinforcing its commitment to tackling immune dysregulation and neurodegeneration.

“TREM2 represents a compelling target at the intersection of Alzheimer’s and immune dysfunction,” said Houman Ashrafian, Sanofi’s head of R&D. “Patients face devastating cognitive decline, and treatment options remain limited.”

Vigil CEO Ivana Magovčević-Liebisch emphasized that the deal would enable her team to leverage Sanofi’s resources, broad platform, and network to accelerate the development of VG-3927.

Despite acquiring VG-3927, Sanofi is not taking over Vigil’s monoclonal antibody program, VGL101, originally licensed from Amgen. That asset will be returned to Amgen before the deal is finalized in Q3 2025.

Navigating market uncertainty

Investor confidence in TREM2 therapies was shaken when AbbVie and Alector’s AL002 failed to slow clinical progression in Alzheimer’s patients in November 2024. The trial failed to meet key endpoints related to dementia symptoms and biomarker improvements.

However, analysts believe VG-3927 has potential, citing strong Phase I results showing high brain penetration and a 50% reduction in sTREM2, an early biomarker of Alzheimer’s progression.

Vigil had already signaled interest in partnering on VG-3927, and negotiations evolved into a full acquisition.

Sanofi initially backed Vigil with US$ 40 million in development funding in July 2024, securing the right of first refusal on VG-3927.

Now, the pharmaceutical company is fully committing to advancing Alzheimer’s research with this acquisition.