AstraZeneca plunks down $800M+ upfront to buy vaccine developer Icosavax and challenge Pfizer, GSK in RSV
AstraZeneca is shelling out $838 million upfront to acquire Icosavax and its protein virus-like particle platform technology in a move to add muscle to the Big Pharma’s vaccine R&D group.
The buyout also vaults AstraZeneca to a position where it can challenge Pfizer and GSK in the vaccine market for respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV. AstraZeneca already counts two preventative RSV antibodies in its portfolio — Synagis and Beyfortus — marketed via partnerships with Sanofi and Sobi. But it will now get its hands on Icosavax’s Phase III-ready bivalent vaccine candidate against both RSV and human metapneumovirus (hMPV).
Unlock this article instantly by becoming a free subscriber.
You’ll get access to free articles each month, plus you can customize what newsletters get delivered to your inbox each week, including breaking news.
