PaxVax Acquires Typhoid Vivotif Vaccine, Swiss Plant
Specialty vaccine company PaxVax announced that it has acquired the oral typhoid vaccine Vivotif from Crucell Switzerland.
Vivotif is an orally administered, live attenuated typhoid fever vaccine against Salmonella typhi, the most common typhoid fever-causing bacteria. The vaccine received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1989 and is currently available in more than 25 countries around the world.
Under the agreement, PaxVax gains the commercialization and distribution rights to the vaccine in the U.S. and other markets. The company also acquired Vivotif’s manufacturing plant located in Thörishaus, Switzerland. No financial terms of the agreement were disclosed by either company.
Kenneth Kelley, CEO of PaxVax, said, “The manufacturing and sales channel for Vivotif is highly complementary to those for our cholera vaccine candidate, currently finishing Phase 3 clinical trials, and the site and production assets we are acquiring lay a strong foundation for further growth.” The acquisition included 80 Crucell employees around the world, whom Kelley welcomed into the company. “We are delighted to welcome our new Swiss colleagues and a site with such long standing heritage in vaccines to the PaxVax team. Their work will be central to helping us build and commercialize a world-class portfolio of specialty vaccines,” Mr. Kelley said.
The company is currently developing its cholera vaccine PXVX0200 in Phase III clinical trials, in which the vaccine met its primary endpoint of efficacy 10 days and 90 days after patient vaccination compared to placebo. PaxVax said it plans to develop another vaccine targeting hepatitis A as well as other vaccines for dengue, rabies, and malaria.
Earlier this month, PaxVax reported that it has secured up to $60 million in debt financing and investment as part of its acquisition of Vivotif. The funds will also be used to support clinical development, regulatory application, and the launch of its cholera vaccine.