Emergent secures US licence to manufacture pandemic flu vaccine

Emergent BioSolutions will produce VaxInnate's candidatet pandemic influenza vaccine in the US.

Emergent BioSolutions has announced the signature of a licence agreement with VaxInnate Corporation that will see it acquire the rights to manufacture and sell the company's candidate for a pandemic influenza vaccine in the US.

The recombinant vaccine has been designed with rapid, high-yield production at low costs in mind. As per the terms of the licence, VaxInnate will continue to develop the candidate under its contract with the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA).

Daniel J Abdun-Nabi, president and chief executive of Emergent, said: "This transaction, which secures manufacturing rights to a next generation pandemic influenza vaccine candidate, is a step towards satisfying Emergent's commitment to BARDA as a Center for Innovation in Advanced Development and Manufacturing."

He added that the company's own partnership with BARDA taps into its "core manufacturing capabilities and infrastructure", making significant progress towards meeting the nation's need for medical manufacturing of potential pandemic countermeasures.

The licence was acquired in order to fulfill Emergent's role as a Centre, which required it to possess intellectual property and manufacturing rights for a pandemic influenza vaccine.