Sanofi will pay $17.5m up front to license candidates developed with Adagene’s SAFEbody platform, which can mask antibodies, enabling them to reach cancer targets in the tumor microenvironment.

The Dutch firm’s dream to become the number one antibody drug conjugate technology provider by 2023 has been bolstered by a flurry of recent strategic collaborations, including one with MacroGenics.

Biopharma industry leaders highlight key concerns and opportunities across production, supply chain and commercial operations. Business transformation is top of mind for many, perhaps unsurprisingly following two years of rapid and mostly successful adaptation to the strictures of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Plus deals involving Aculys/Neurelis, Xtalpi/Excelra, Abbisko/Lilly, Daiichi Sankyo/Cosette, Mitsubishi Tanabe/ADC Therapeutics and PersonGen/Transgene.