Sanofi Pasteur completes its $650 Million acquisition of the vaccine manufacturer.
The acquisition of Protein Sciences by Sanofi, first announced in July 2017, is officially completed. Protein Sciences is a Connecticut-based biotechnology company focused on the development and manufacturing of new vaccines. In October 2016, the company received FDA approval for its Flublok® Quadrivalent Influenza Vaccine (QIV), the only recombinant protein-based influenza vaccine approved by the agency. The vaccine is produced using a baculovirus expression system technology (B.E.S.T.) platform developed by Protein Sciences Flublok Quadrivalent vaccine is indicated for active immunization of adults 18 years of age and older against seasonal influenza.
“Older adults are at high risk of severe influenza and its complications, so it is exciting to see that in a recent clinical study in adults 50 years of age and older, individuals who received Flublok Quadrivalent vaccine were significantly less likely to get influenza than those who received a quadrivalent inactivated influenza vaccine. Specifically, Flublok Quadrivalent vaccine, relative to the comparator, reduced the incidence of lab-confirmed influenza by 30% in this age group,” said David Loew, Sanofi Executive Vice President and head of Sanofi Pasteur, the vaccines global business unit of Sanofi.
“Protein Sciences was actively looking for an opportunity to grow its business, particularly in the US,” noted Manon M.J. Cox, President and Chief Executive Officer, Protein Sciences. “As part of Sanofi Pasteur, we expect our Flublok® influenza vaccine to benefit from Sanofi Pasteur’s expertise in the field of influenza vaccines.”
Sanofi Pasteur made an upfront payment of $650 million and has agreed to pay up to $100 million in additional milestone payments. With the acquisition of Flublok® (Influenza Vaccine), Sanofi has added “a promising product to its influenza vaccine portfolio.” The acquisition of Protein Sciences fits with Sanofi Pasteur’s strategic initiative to explore non-egg-based influenza vaccine manufacturing technologies, according to the company.
“This acquisition is consistent with our strategic ambition of expanding our presence in the respiratory vaccine market, and builds on the recently announced collaboration on an investigational respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) monoclonal antibody,” said Loew. He added that “We are thrilled to welcome the talented employees and assets of Protein Sciences within Sanofi Pasteur. The addition of Flublok Quadrivalent vaccine represents a very attractive opportunity to complement our influenza vaccines portfolio.”
