Novavax Forms Strategic Alliance with Cadila Pharmaceuticals

Novavax, Inc. (Rockville, MD), has formed a joint venture with Cadila Pharmaceuticals, Ltd. (Ahmedabad, India), to develop, manufacture, and market vaccines, pharmaceuticals, and diagnostic products in India. The joint venture will develop and commercialize Novavax’s seasonal influenza virus-like-particle (VLP)-based vaccine candidate and Cadila’s therapeutic vaccine candidates against cancer as well as its adjuvants, biogenerics, and biological diagnostic products for the Indian territory. Novavax also will contribute technology to the joint venture for the development of several other VLP-based vaccine candidates against diseases of public health concern in that region, such as hepatitis E and Dengue fever. Cadila will contribute approximately $8 million over three years to support the joint venture operations.

The joint venture will be responsible for clinical testing and registration of products that will be marketed and sold in India by the joint venture, which will be owned 80% by Cadila and 20% by Novavax after India Foreign Investment Promotion Board’s approval. Novavax will have the right to negotiate license arrangements of certain vaccines developed by the joint venture for commercialization worldwide outside of India and to negotiate for other vaccines for commercialization in the US and several other territories outside India.