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South Korea's ADEL signs up to $1.04 billion Alzheimer's drug development deal with Sanofi

Published by Global Banking & Finance Review

Posted on December 16, 2025

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· Last updated: January 20, 2026

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South Korea's ADEL signs up to $1.04 billion Alzheimer's drug development deal with Sanofi
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Dec 16 (Reuters) - South Korea-based ADEL said late on Monday that it has entered a $1.04 billion partnership with French drugmaker Sanofi to develop and sell the biotech company's experimental

ADEL and Sanofi Sign $1.04 Billion Alzheimer's Drug Development Deal

Dec ‌16 (Reuters) - South Korea-based ADEL said late ‍on ‌Monday that it has entered a $1.04 billion partnership ⁠with French ‌drugmaker Sanofi to develop and sell the biotech company's experimental Alzheimer's disease treatment.

Under the terms ⁠of the agreement, ADEL will receive an upfront payment ​of $80 million, with additional milestone ‌payments tied to ⁠development progress and commercial performance, as well as royalties on future sales.

Sanofi signed ​a separate deal with private biotech Dren Bio worth up to $1.7 billion on Monday to develop autoimmune disease therapies.

ADEL's drug ​candidate, ‍ADEL-Y01, is an ​antibody therapy designed to block harmful forms of a protein linked to Alzheimer's disease. It is currently in early-stage human trials in the United States.

"ADEL's innovative ⁠approach to targeting tau acetylation offers a promising and differentiated ​mechanism for addressing the underlying causes of Alzheimer's disease," said Erik Wallstroem, global head, Multiple Sclerosis, Neurology and ‌Gene Therapy Development at Sanofi.

(Reporting by Sahil Pandey in Bengaluru; Editing by Sherry Jacob-Phillips)

Key Takeaways

  • ADEL partners with Sanofi for Alzheimer's drug development.
  • The deal is valued at $1.04 billion with milestone payments.
  • ADEL-Y01 targets tau acetylation in Alzheimer's treatment.
  • The drug is in early-stage human trials in the US.
  • Sanofi also partners with Dren Bio for autoimmune therapies.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Alzheimer's disease?
Alzheimer's disease is a progressive neurological disorder that causes brain cells to degenerate and die, leading to memory loss, cognitive decline, and changes in behavior.
What is a partnership in business?
A partnership in business refers to a formal arrangement where two or more parties agree to manage and operate a business together, sharing profits and responsibilities.
What are milestone payments?
Milestone payments are payments made upon the completion of specific stages or achievements in a project, often used in contracts to ensure progress.
What are royalties?
Royalties are payments made to the owner of a property or intellectual property for the right to use that property, often calculated as a percentage of sales or profits.

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