On April 9, 2021, Sanofi, a global biopharmaceutical company focused on human health, announced its acquisition of Tidal Therapeutics, a privately owned, pre-clinical stage biotech company with a novel mRNA-based approach for in vivo reprogramming of immune cells. Tidal Therapeutics utilizes technology based on proprietary nanoparticles that deliver mRNA (messages) to reprogram immune cells inside the body. The technology delivers mRNA cargos selectively to designated types of cells in the body, and will expand Sanofi’s research capabilities in both immuno-oncology and inflammatory diseases, while likely having broad applicability to other disease areas as well. Sanofi acquired Tidal Therapeutics for an upfront payment of $160 million and up to $310 million upon achievement of certain milestones.

The WilmerHale team advising Tidal Therapeutics was led by Eric Hanson and Brian Johnson, and included Ciara Baker, Steve Barrett, R. Scott Kilgore, Julie Hogan Rodgers, Michael Lopes, Meghan Fay and Gavin Tullis.