Sanofi and Genzyme agree rare disease collaboration with Alnylam

Sanofi and Genzyme have announced an expanded collaboration with Alnylam Pharmaceuticals that will aid their efforts to create new treatment options for rare genetic diseases.

The new agreement will provide Genzyme with significant rights to Alnylam's portfolio of clinical and preclinical-stage drug candidates, with Alnylam retaining most product rights in North America and western Europe.

Alnylam will also benefit from significantly expanded development and commercial opportunities for its genetic medicine pipeline via Genzyme's established global infrastructure in rare diseases.

Specifics of the deal include Genzyme receiving expanded rights to patisiran, a therapy for transthyretin-familial amyloid polyneuropath, and becoming a major Alnylam shareholder.

Dr David Meeker, Genzyme's president and chief executive officer, said: "Their world-class RNAi technology holds the promise to provide a platform for sustained drug development for rare genetic diseases for years to come."

This comes after Sanofi and Regeneron announced last month that they will be collaborating with the American College of Cardiology to study an investigational monoclonal antibody called alirocumab.