Boryung acquires global rights to Sanofi’s Taxotere for $188 million

Boryung said Tuesday it has signed an agreement with Sanofi to acquire the global business of its cytotoxic cancer drug Taxotere (ingredient: docetaxel). The deal includes worldwide rights for sales, distribution, licensing, manufacturing, and trademarks.

The transaction is valued at up to €175 million ($188 million), or about 287.8 billion won. Of this, €161 million will be paid at closing, with an additional €14 million contingent on certain milestones being met.

With the agreement, Boryung will take over Taxotere operations in 19 countries including Korea, China, Germany, and Spain, as well as across South America and the Middle East, once regulatory approvals are secured.

The company also plans to manufacture the drug at its Yesan campus in Korea and directly distribute the original medicine to global markets.

Docetaxel is listed on the World Health Organization’s essential medicines list, and Taxotere is its original brand.

Since its first U.S. FDA approval in 1995, the drug has been widely prescribed for breast, prostate, gastric, and head and neck cancers, remaining a backbone therapy in solid tumor treatment. Taxotere generated €70 million (115.4 billion won) in global sales last year.

Boryung has previously acquired the Korean business rights to Eli Lilly’s original oncology products Gemzar in 2021 and Alimta in 2023, and has now expanded further by securing the global business of Sanofi’s Taxotere.

The latest deal, however, marks its first acquisition of global business rights, positioning the company as a full-fledged multinational player in the cytotoxic oncology segment.

“While cancer treatment is rapidly shifting toward targeted and immuno-oncology therapies, cytotoxic chemotherapy remains a vital foundation,” a Boryung official said. “Supply shortages of these essential medicines have repeatedly disrupted treatment worldwide. By acquiring the global Taxotere business, we aim to secure a stable supply chain and expand our differentiated oncology portfolio.”

CEO Jay Kim stressed that the acquisition not only secures an original cancer therapy but also opens the company’s first direct path into global markets.

“This is our third oncology acquisition after Gemzar and Alimta, but our first time securing worldwide rights,” Kim said. “Boryung will advance Taxotere’s value through new formulations, combination strategies, and expanded indications, strengthening our competitiveness and growth potential in the global oncology field.”