STAT+: Pharmalittle: We’re reading about Sanofi buying Blueprint, a Bristol deal with BioNTech and more

Good morning, everyone, and welcome to another working week. We hope the weekend respite was relaxing and invigorating, because that oh-so-familiar routine of meetings, deadlines, and messages has returned. But what can you do? There is no pause button to stop the world from spinning. So this means one thing: time to dig in to the tasks at hand. On that note, we have assembled a menu of tidbits to help you get started. Meanwhile, we have also fired up the coffee kettle for another cup of stimulation. Our choice today is Mexican cinnamon. We hope your day is simply smashing and, as always, do keep in touch if something saucy arises. …

Sanofi plans to buy Blueprint Medicines in a deal worth more than $9 billion, as the pharmaceutical company expands its immunology pipeline, a key focus of its strategy, STAT writes. Sanofi is paying $129 per share in cash for Blueprint, amounting to a $9.1 billion equity value and a 27% premium on the closing price on Friday. The drug maker is also offering potential milestone payments worth up to $400 million based on development and regulatory successes for the experimental drug BLU-808, which is being tested in a number of allergic and inflammatory diseases. Blueprint has an approved drug called Ayvakit that treats a rare immunological condition called systemic mastocytosis. The treatment brought in $479 million in revenue in 2024, with Blueprint forecasting that sales could reach $2 billion by 2030. Sanofi also highlighted that Blueprint’s established relationships with specialists like dermatologists and immunologists could help it with its other immunology medicines.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Moderna’s new Covid-19 vaccine, though it placed restrictions on its use that the company’s existing Covid shot, Spikevax, does not currently face, STAT tells us. The new vaccine, which will be marketed under the name mNexspike, will not immediately replace Spikevax. A statement from the company said both vaccines will be available on the market for the time being.  As it did earlier this month with Novavax’s Covid vaccine, the FDA said the new Moderna shot is licensed for use only in people aged 65 and older and people aged 12 to 64 who have at least one medical condition that puts them at increased risk of becoming seriously ill if they contract the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Such conditions include diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder or COPD, and obesity. Spikevax’s license allows its use in people aged 12 years and older. The approval is at least a partial victory for the company, given the skepticism about messenger RNA-based vaccines shared by health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and his political base, and some of the health department’s recent actions.

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