Singapore, Dec. 26 -- French biopharmaceutical firm Sanofi has entered into an agreement to acquire US-based Dynavax Technologies Corporation, a publicly traded vaccines company with a marketed adult hepatitis B vaccine (HEPLISAV-B(R)) and a differentiated shingles vaccine candidate. The acquisition augments Sanofi's presence in adult immunisation by bringing together Dynavax's vaccines with Sanofi's global scale, development capabilities and commercial reach.

Dynavax's adult hepatitis B vaccine HEPLISAV-B is currently marketed in the US and is differentiated by its two-dose regimen over one month, which enables high levels of seroprotection faster than other hepatitis B vaccines, which are given in three doses over six months.

The acqu...