Sanofi unveils Cambridge Crossing R&D hub, outlining next-gen immunoscience and translational strategy

BOSTON, Mass. -- By Lee Han-soo / Korea Biomedical Review correspondent -- Global biopharmaceutical company Sanofi recently invited international media to its flagship research and development campus, the Cambridge Crossing (CX) Center, located in Boston, Massachusetts.

The facility spans 47,400 square meters across 12 floors and was established in June 2022.

According to Srinivas Rao, U.S. Country R&D Lead and Global Head of Sanofi’s Translational Models Platform, the campus was built to foster scientific adjacencies, cross-functional integration, and real-time data exchange among teams.

“Previously scattered across Massachusetts, our scientists are now co-located in a single site designed for collaboration and innovation,” he said during the R&D Innovation Showcase. “The building anatomy itself reflects the science we pursue -- with modular designs that encourage interaction between therapeutic areas like immunology, oncology, rare diseases, and vaccines.”

The CX Center is organized by disease area and function, combining lab and office spaces with automation rooms and open community zones. Automation is at the heart of its operational philosophy. One example is the "PEP" robot -- a fully automated protein expression and purification platform capable of producing 5,000 protein samples annually.

These are used across Sanofi’s global research network for biological testing.

“This robot can operate 24 hours a day and only requires minimal human supervision, producing hundreds of proteins every 10 days,” said Matt Truppo, Global Head of Research Platforms and Computational R&D.

AI is also deeply embedded in Sanofi’s research infrastructure. The company has built proprietary AI systems to execute “Design-Make-Test-Analyze” (DMTA) cycles at scale. Truppo noted that AI-driven models help prioritize which targets to pursue and guide early-stage drug design, replacing what were once manual, iterative processes with high-throughput automation.

Mike Quigley, Sanofi’s Chief Scientific Officer and Global Head of Research, emphasized that the company is moving beyond a narrow focus on immunology to a broader “immunoscience” paradigm.

“We’re leveraging core immunological nodes to explore adjacencies in neurodegeneration, ophthalmology, and oncology,” he said. “The intersection of immunologic pathways and disease biology is what fuels our pipeline innovation.”

Quigley added that Sanofi's research output is now supported by four core modality platforms -- biologics, including monoclonal and bispecific antibodies, small molecules, genetic medicines, and vaccines. These are complemented by AI-based target identification systems and partnerships with academia and biotech.

One of the latest outcomes of this strategy is the Second Make platform, which focuses on developing multispecific antibodies. A recent example is a pentavalent antibody that simultaneously targets IL-13 and TSLP -- with two domains each -- and includes a fifth domain targeting human serum albumin to prolong half-life.

“It’s like developing five drugs in one,” Truppo said.

Another key highlight was the introduction of the Translational Medicine Unit (TMU), a newly established organization under Alyssa Johnsen, Global Therapeutic Area Head for Immunology and Oncology Development.

TMU is designed to accelerate the path from molecule to patient by integrating pharmacology modeling, early clinical studies, and biomarker-based decision-making.

“We built TMU to avoid unnecessary iterations and consolidate capabilities,” Johnsen said. “From safety studies and SAD/MAD trials to early proof-of-concept, we aim to generate high-quality data as early as possible to focus on the right molecules and minimize development risk.”

The unit is responsible for translational planning across all stages of drug development, including clinical simulations, real-world data integration, and quantitative pharmacology.

Johnsen added that TMU also plays a pivotal role in reverse translation -- leveraging clinical feedback to inform preclinical research -- and collaborates with external innovators to stay ahead in emerging areas such as longevity and healthspan.

Sanofi puts spotlight on ABL Bio partnership in Parkinson's R&D push

In follow-up discussions with Sanofi executives, several key questions were addressed concerning the company’s development priorities and external innovation strategies.

Regarding its partnership with Korea-based ABL Bio, Sanofi confirmed that phase 1 data for ABL301, a bispecific antibody targeting Parkinson’s disease, is expected in the first half of 2025.

At the R&D showcase, Sanofi executives further emphasized that ABL301 fits within the company’s broader neurodegeneration strategy, which is anchored in immune pathway modulation.

“We view neuroinflammation as a critical driver in neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s,” Quigley said. “In this context, we are leveraging external partnerships to complement our internal capabilities -- ABL Bio and Vigil Neuroscience are both key examples.”

While Vigil is being brought in through an acquisition, ABL Bio remains a strategic partner through targeted collaboration, he added.

Quigley explained that Sanofi evaluates such partnerships based on the scientific maturity of the asset, target validation, and optimal timing for internalization.

“We deploy various levers depending on the readiness of the molecule and the strength of the data,” he said. “The relationship with ABL Bio reflects our confidence in bispecific approaches to target neuroinflammatory mechanisms in Parkinson’s disease.”

Sanofi also outlined its evolving approach to external partnerships, particularly within the Boston biotech cluster.

Kathleen Lieu, Head of Research Execution and Excellence, emphasized that the company leverages diverse engagement models -- from seed-stage collaborations such as iAward and iNext to equity investments through Sanofi Ventures and Sanofi Capital.

In the Greater Boston area, recent acquisitions of Vigil Neuroscience and Blueprint Medicines reflect a deeper integration into the regional ecosystem.

The company’s Open Innovation Lab enables external scientists and entrepreneurs to work side-by-side with Sanofi researchers to co-develop novel platform technologies.

“We prioritize partners who share our vision for transformative science and maintain transparent, solutions-focused dialogue,” Lieu said. “Our goal is to build enduring partnerships that unlock high-value innovation and accelerate delivery to patients.”