By Colin Kellaher

Shares of Translate Bio Inc. jumped nearly 30% in premarket trading Tuesday after the messenger RNA therapeutics company agreed to be acquired by vaccine collaboration partner Sanofi SA for about $3.2 billion.

France's Sanofi said it would pay $38 a share in cash for Translate Bio, a roughly 30% premium to Monday's closing price of $29.15 for the Lexington, Mass., company.

Sanofi and Translate Bio, which in 2018 signed a collaboration and exclusive license agreement to develop mRNA vaccines, said they expect the deal to close in the third quarter.

Translate Bio shares were recently up 29% to $37.63 in premarket trading.

Write to Colin Kellaher at colin.kellaher@wsj.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

08-03-21 0637ET