UK-based pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca (AZ; NASDAQ: AZN) has announced the acquisition of US vaccines specialist Icosavax (NASDAQ: ICVX), including its protein virus-like particle (VLP) platform. AstraZeneca will pay approximately USD 800 million upfront for all outstanding shares, plus about USD 300 million in milestone payments.
The acquisition is set to strengthen AstraZeneca’s infectious disease pipeline with Icosavax’s potential first-in-class combination protein VLP vaccine IVX-A12, which has already successfully cleared Phase II trials for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and the orphan disease human metapneumovirus (hMPV).
According to the press release, VLP vaccines have the potential to induce stronger immune responses and offer a broader protection spectrum, longer durability, and a lower incidence of side effects compared to other types of vaccinations, including currently approved RSV vaccines such as GlaxoSmithKline’s (GSK, NYSE: GSK) Arexvy and Pfizer’s (NYSE: PFE) Abrysvo.- Flcube.com
