Pfizer buys herpes vaccine company
This article was originally published in Scrip
Pfizer has continued its recent deal-making spree with the acquisition of a "controlling interest" in Redvax, a spin-off from Redbiotec, a privately held Swiss biopharmaceutical company.
Redvax develops multi-component virus-like particles (VLPs) and other protein assemblies for vaccine development. This transaction provides access to a preclinical human cytomegalovirus (CMV) vaccine candidate, as well as IP and a technology platform related to a second, undisclosed vaccine program. Financial details are not being disclosed.
CMV is a herpes virus infecting 50-90% of the adult population, though the majority remain asymptomatic. Women of childbearing age who remain CMV negative are at high risk of CMV infection during pregnancy and of passing the infection on to the unborn child (congenital infection). This is when the consequences can be serious: around one out of every five children born with CMV infection may experience hearing loss and severe neurologic disorders, says Pfizer.
"Through the acquisition of the Redvax innovative CMV vaccine platform and expertise we will seek to develop a vaccine to prevent a difficult disease that can have a devastating and lifelong impact on young children," said Dr Kathrin Jansen, CSO of Pfizer's Vaccine Research & Early Development unit.
Pfizer most significant move in recent months to boost its vaccines portfolio was last July when it announced the purchase of two of Baxter's vaccines for $635m (scripintelligence.com, 31 July 2014): NeisVac-C, to help protect against meningitis C ,and FSME-IMMUN, which helps protect against tick-borne encephalitis (TBE). The deal also included a vaccine manufacturing facility in Austria.
Revenues from Pfizer's vaccine business, which heavily features its Prevnar franchise, grew by 19% to $1.14bn in the third quarter of 2014, compared with the same period in 2013. This was driven by a 26% increase in Prevnar 13 sales.