AstraZeneca Completes Acquisition of Icosavax

AstraZeneca, a global science-led biopharmaceutical company, has successfully completed its acquisition of US-based clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company, Icosavax, which will become a subsidiary of AstraZeneca. The completion of the acquisition was announced in a Feb. 19, 2024 press release.

Through this acquisition, AstraZeneca will be able to expand its expertise in respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) thanks to Icosavax’s lead investigational vaccine candidate, IVX-A12—a combination protein virus-like particle (VLP) platform vaccine that targets RSV and human metapneumovirus (hMPV). The vaccine, IVX-A12, is ready for Phase III studies and has been granted Fast Track Designation from FDA.

According to Phase II clinical data, IVX-A12 elicits a robust immune response against both RSV and hMPV only one month after vaccination. These data reconfirm previous immunogenicity data seen during the Phase I trial. Currently, there are no treatments or preventative therapies available for hMPV and no combination vaccines available for RSV.

Completion of the acquisition was made through a tender offer for the purchase of all outstanding shares of Icosavax for $15 per share in cash. Additionally, in the event of specified regulator and sales milestones being met, AstraZeneca will pay a non-tradable contingent value of up to $5 per share in cash. In combination, the deal is expected to reach a value of $1.1 billion.

The definitive acquisition agreement between the two companies was announced back in a Dec. 15, 2023 press release, when Iskra Reic, executive vice-president, Vaccines & Immune Therapies, AstraZeneca commented: “With the addition of Icosavax’s Phase III-ready lead asset to our late-stage pipeline, we will have a differentiated, advanced investigational vaccine, and a platform for further development of combination vaccines against respiratory viruses. This aligns with our strategy to deliver a portfolio of therapies to address high unmet needs in infectious diseases, and our ambition to protect the most vulnerable patients who have high risk of severe outcomes.”

Source: AstraZeneca