Exhibit 99.3
Dear colleagues,
I am delighted to announce today that we have reached an agreement to acquire Translate Bio, a biotech focused on messenger RNA (mRNA) technology. This name probably sounds familiar to you. Our collaboration with Translate Bio started in 2018 and reached a new level last year with our work together on a COVID-19 mRNA vaccine (currently in phase 1/2 trials) and a new expanded collaboration agreement.
Building on our recent announcement of an mRNA center of excellence in vaccines located in Cambridge and Marcy l’Etoile, this acquisition will allow Thomas Triomphe and our Vaccines teams to accelerate the development of mRNA vaccines targeting infectious diseases, such as influenza for which we have recently initiated a phase 1 clinical trial. Importantly, it will also give us opportunities to explore the potential of mRNA technology for other areas and the development of innovative therapeutics.
This latest acquisition is fully in line with our ambition to add pioneering science and technologies to our pipeline. John Reed and the R&D teams have built a truly diverse toolbox for drug discovery going beyond core competencies in small molecules, insulins, and recombinant enzymes to add platforms in nanobodies (Ablynx), fully human monoclonal antibodies (Kymab), synthetic biology (Synthorx), mRNA delivered in vivo (Tidal), universal natural killer ‘NK’ cell therapies (Kiadis), and even new twists on small molecules (Principia).
Indeed, the more platforms we have, the more “tools” we give to our R&D teams to discover breakthrough medicines and vaccines in the future. In a world driven by short-term considerations, it is important that we always keep in mind our long-term ambition. This acquisition will help us stay on track to achieve it.
Massive thanks to the teams that have worked very hard behind the scenes on this project: R&D, Finance, Legal, Business Development, Communications, to name a few.
Thank you,
Paul
Additional Information and Where to Find It
The tender offer for the outstanding shares of Translate Bio common stock referenced in the press release has not yet commenced. This communication is for informational purposes only and is neither an offer to purchase nor a solicitation of an offer to sell securities, nor is it a substitute for the tender offer materials that Sanofi and its acquisition subsidiary will file with the SEC, upon the commencement of the tender offer. At the time the tender offer is commenced, Sanofi and its acquisition subsidiary will file a tender offer statement on Schedule TO and thereafter Translate Bio will file a Solicitation/Recommendation Statement on Schedule 14D-9 with the SEC with respect to the tender offer. THE TENDER OFFER MATERIALS (INCLUDING AN OFFER TO PURCHASE, A RELATED LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL AND CERTAIN OTHER TENDER OFFER DOCUMENTS) AND THE SOLICITATION/RECOMMENDATION STATEMENT ON SCHEDULE 14D-9 WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION. TRANSLATE BIO STOCKHOLDERS ARE URGED TO READ THESE DOCUMENTS CAREFULLY WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE (AS EACH MAY BE AMENDED OR SUPPLEMENTED FROM TIME TO TIME) BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION THAT HOLDERS OF TRANSLATE BIO SECURITIES SHOULD CONSIDER BEFORE MAKING ANY DECISION REGARDING TENDERING THEIR SECURITIES. The Offer to Purchase, the related Letter of Transmittal and certain other tender offer documents, as well as the Solicitation/Recommendation Statement, will be made available to all holders of Translate Bio stock at