Emergent BioSolutions to buy Sanofi’s smallpox vaccine business for $125m

Under the deal, Sanofi will secure $97.5m upfront payment, as well as up to $27.5m based on the achievement of certain regulatory and manufacturing-related milestones.

Once the deal concludes, Emergent will acquire ACAM2000 (smallpox (vaccinia) vaccine, live), which is claimed to be the only vaccine approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for active immunization against smallpox disease for patients with high risk of infection

ACAM2000 is the primary smallpox vaccine developed for use in a bioterrorism emergency. The vaccine is also licensed in Australia and Singapore, as well as stockpiled both in the US and internationally.

The deal will also cover an existing 10-year contract originally valued at up to $425m with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) with a remaining value of up to160m for deliveries of ACAM2000 to the Strategic National Stockpile (SNS).

In addition, Emergent will acquire US-based cGMP bulk manufacturing facility and leased cGMP fill/finish facility, which have around 100 employees.

Subject to customary closing conditions, the deal is expected to complete by the end of this year.

Emergent BioSolutions president and CEO Daniel  Abdun-Nabi said: “This transaction diversifies our portfolio and broadens our countermeasure franchise with a vaccine that is being stockpiled both in the U.S. and internationally.

“We expect it to meaningfully contribute to revenue growth in 2018 and advance our efforts towards achieving our goal of $1 billion in total revenue by 2020.”

Separately, Sanofi agreed to acquire US vaccines biotechnology firm Protein Sciences for around $650m.

Founded in 1983 and based in Meriden, Protein Sciences is engaged in the vaccine development and protein production.

Image: Emergent BioSolutions to acquire smallpox vaccine business from Sanofi. Photo: courtesy of scottchan / FreeDigitalPhotos.net.