Recordati SpA

Nodenza Venture Partners launched Focus on international early-stage and pre-commercial biotech & medtech opportunities New York, October 16, 2024 – Nodenza Venture Partners (“Nodenza”) has been launched to provide financial and operational support to early-stage and pre-commercial biotech and medtech companies and products. Established by a team of experienced life sciences entrepreneurs, founders and leaders, Nodenza already has a pipeline of unique high value opportunities. Ross Morton, Managing Partner of Nodenza Venture Partners, said: “Nodenza is focused on identifying, investing in and supporting disruptive technologies and therapies with the potential to deliver exceptional benefits to patients which Nodenza believes to be the most successful driver of long-term capital returns. Our expert team has a strong track record of delivering success in the life sciences industry.” Nodenza’s bi-modal investment strategy combines early-stage opportunities – advancing new treatment modalities through active IND to phase 2 - with pre-commercial targets supporting their transition from scientific to commercial companies delivering strong upside potential. The approach leverages Nodenza’s expertise in the creation and growth of new companies, as well as late-stage product development and launch. “Our leadership team blends strong drug development and process skills to ensure we invest in the best opportunities, with hands-on mentorship and guidance to support the optimal growth of portfolio companies. We are targeting three to four investments in the first year of operation and look forward to working alongside other venture partners to maximize our impact and build a portfolio of innovative and well-resourced companies,” Morton said. The Nodenza team includes: Ross Morton, Managing Director, former COO of Akaza Bioscience and head of strategy and operations at Izana Bioscience, sold to Roivant in 2020.Dr Tim Corn, Partner, a specialist in clinical & regulatory affairs with extensive experience as Chief Medical Officer involved in more than 20 FDA & EMA approvals; formerly at GSK, Elan & the UK Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).Bryan Morton, Chairman and Partner, formerly EUSA Pharma CEO & Chairman, Private Equity Operating Partner and with extensive commercialization experience; previously at Merck & BMS.Dr Dev Kumar, Partner, former GC of EUSA Pharma with expertise in IP and market access; Dr Kumar has worked at Biogen, UCB and BI and qualified as a medical doctor & lawyer.Dr Gary Whale, Partner, the CTO of Zura Bio with expertise in CMC and product launch; formerly at EUSA Pharma, VHsquared and P&G. Nodenza is in the process of establishing an Advisory Board. Contacts: Nodenza Venture Partners Ross Morton, Managing Partnerinfo@nodenza.com Mo Advisory PRmo@mopradvisory.comMo Noonan / Jonathan Birt Notes to Editors About Nodenza Venture PartnersNodenza Venture Partners provides investment and operational support to early-stage and pre-commercial biotech and medtech companies and products designed to bring exceptional patient benefit. Our bi-modal investment strategy combines early-stage opportunities – advancing new treatment modalities through active IND to phase 2 - with pre-commercial targets supporting their transition from scientific to commercial companies delivering strong upside potential. Established by a team of experienced life sciences entrepreneurs, founders and leaders, our approach leverages Nodenza’s extensive expertise in the creation and growth of new companies, as well as late-stage product development and launch. For more information visit us at https://www.nodenza.com Attachment Nodenza Launch Final

The decision marks a significant step in Sanofi’s ongoing effort to sharpen its focus on its core areas of innovative medicines and vaccines. Credit: jd8/Shutterstock. Sanofi has announced negotiations with Clayton Dubilier & Rice (CD&R), a US-based investment company, regarding the potential sale of a 50% controlling stake in its consumer healthcare business, Opella. The move marks a significant step in the company’s ongoing effort to sharpen its focus on its core areas of innovative medicines and vaccines. The French finance ministry, as reported by Reuters , has acknowledged CD&R as a “serious investment fund” with favourable prospects for Opella’s growth and its operations in the country. The ministry has stipulated economic commitments from both Sanofi and CD&R. These include ensuring that Opella’s decision-making centres remain in France and protecting the company’s industrial footprint within the country. The ministry has also emphasised that the proposed sale will not affect the production of Doliprane or other essential medicines by Opella in France, nor the supply of these medicines to the market. See Also: Evergreen Theragnostics Radiopharmaceutical Manufacturing Facility, New Jersey, US Merck Biotech Development Center, Corsier-sur-Vevey, Switzerland The reported valuation of the deal by Bloomberg stands at €15bn ($16.4bn). The fact that CD&R has reportedly outbid PAI Partners suggests a competitive process that reflects the high value and potential of Opella within the broader consumer health market. Opella, with its headquarters in France, employs more than 11,000 people, has operations in 100 countries and manages 13 manufacturing sites and four research and innovation centres. It has a portfolio of 100 brands, including Doliprane, Allegra, Novanight, Icy Hot and Dulcolax. Operating independently within Sanofi, Opella has resources allocated for research and development, production, and digital operations, along with a sustainability roadmap. It reached a 6.3% sales growth at constant exchange rates in 2023, demonstrating a focus on brands and consumer orientation. In October 2024, Recordati reached an agreement with Sanofi to acquire the worldwide rights to Enjaymo, the only approved treatment specifically targeting cold agglutinin disease, a rare B-cell lymphoproliferative disorder.

Sanofi is offloading its rare autoimmune disease medicine Enjaymo to an Italian pharmaceutical company for $825 million upfront. Recordati, based in Milan, said Friday it will pay up to an additional $250 million over time for the monoclonal antibody, which was greenlit in the US , Europe and Japan in 2022 for hemolysis in adults with cold agglutinin disease (CAD). In patients with the rare condition, their immune system prematurely demolishes red blood cells, and it can lead to severe anemia. Sanofi recorded €55 million ($60 million) in Enjaymo sales in the first six months of 2024, it said in July. Recordati predicts the drug could reach annual peak sales of €250 million to €300 million (about $275 million to $330 million). It marks a winding road for Enjaymo, which has gone through the full biotech-to-pharma journey. A Bay Area biotech called True North Therapeutics developed the drug and then was bought by Bioverativ for $400 million upfront in 2017. Less than 12 months later, Sanofi acquired Bioverativ for almost $11.6 billion. Two years after that, Sanofi was handed a rejection for the drug before it was approved in 2022. For Recordati, the deal pushes it further into the rare disease market. The company bought EUSA Pharma and its four rare disease drugs for nearly $850 million in December 2021. It’s also struck deals with GSK , Almirall and others in recent years. With “a strong clinical profile and as the only product approved for the treatment of CAD, Enjaymo addresses a serious unmet medical need for patients living with this debilitating disease,” Recordati CEO Rob Koremans said in a press release. Earlier this year, Sobi and Apellis Pharmaceuticals stopped a Phase 3 in CAD, citing “a decreased medical need in CAD and therefore a limited number of patients eligible for the study.” CAD affects about one person per million every year, according to the National Organization for Rare Disorders. The Recordati deal comes as Sanofi adjusts its portfolio. It now plans to hone in on immunology and inflammation under new R&D head Houman Ashrafian and new CSO Mike Quigley , who joined Sept. 30. It’s also planning to divest its consumer health group Opella. Earlier this year, Sanofi sold some early-stage cancer projects to Vir Biotechnology and shuttered a cell therapy unit, though it’s still making a few bets in oncology, including its first foray into radiopharma . The French drugmaker also has invested in several companies, including Ventyx, Vicore and Graviton.