Analysis shows 'good pipeline fit' between Sanofi-Synthelabo and Aventis
An examination of the pipelines of the two French merger candidates Sanofi-Synthelabo and Aventis shows that the companies have a good therapeutic fit, according to Pharmaprojects, the leading pharmaceutical r&d database.
An examination of the pipelines of the two French merger candidates Sanofi-Synthelabo and Aventis shows that the companies have a good therapeutic fit, according to Pharmaprojects, the leading pharmaceutical r&d database.
A merged company would have considerable synergies in its pipeline and the merger would progress fairly smoothly past the regulatory authorities, it suggests.
Aventis would appear to have products in development in a wider range of therapeutic areas than Sanofi-Synthelabo. It also has several potential blockbusters in its pipeline, including ciclenoside, an inhaled corticosteroid developed for COPD, for which registration filings have been made in Australia, Canada and Europe; and insulin glulisine, a fast-acting insulin analogue which is awaiting approval in the EU and the US.
Mainly due to the contribution of its subsidiary, Aventis Pasteur, which develops human vaccines, Aventis has more anti-infectives in development than Sanofi-Synthelabo. However, the two companies are equally matched in the number of alimentary/metabolic, anticancer and cardiovascular drugs under development.
On the other hand, Pharmaprojects points out, Sanofi-Synthelabo is strong in neurology and it too has a number of drugs which could achieve blockbuster status. Launch of rimonabant, a selective CB1 cannabinoid antagonist, which is under development for the treatment of obesity, alcohol dependence and for smoking cessation, is expected in 2005. It has high novelty as it is the first drug with this pharmacology to reach late-stage clinical development and may compete with the likes of GlaxoSmithKline's Wellbutrin SR, which is currently facing court cases over its patent protection.
Research into biotechnology is one area in which Sanofi-Synthelabo clearly has yet to explore thoroughly, says Pharmaprojects. Thanks to its subsidiaries Aventis Pasteur and Aventis Gencell, which de-velop recombinant vaccines and gene therapy products respectively, Aventis has a history of r&d in this area.
According to Pharmaprojects' Biotech Editor, Jan Beal, 'The recombinant vaccine franchise continues to be a money-making venture, as Aventis Pasteur has proved in the past. However, although Aventis Gencell is one of the acknowledged leaders in the gene ther-apy sector, no gene therapy has yet reached the market.' With the increased r&d budget that Sanofi-Synthelabo could offer Aventis, it is possible that the potential of gene therapy could be maximised.
As many of the two companies' blockbusters face patent expiry in the next few years, a merger would reduce the market impact of this, Pharmaprojects concludes.