PharmAthene Acquires Biodefence Vaccines from Avecia

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PharmAthene, Inc., (Annapolis, MD), has completed its acquisition of Avecia’s (Manchester, UK) biodefense vaccines business.

PharmAthene, Inc., (Annapolis, MD), has completed its acquisition of Avecia’s (Manchester, UK) biodefense vaccines business.

In connection with the acquisition, the parties also have entered into various agreements for the transitional and longer-term supply of facilities, support, and services by Avecia to PharmAthene. Among these agreements are a master services agreement, pursuant to which Avecia has agreed to provide process development, analytical development, production, disposition, and stability testing of vaccines for PharmAthene. Under a supply agreement, Avecia has agreed to manufacture and supply to PharmAthene its requirements for the rPA anthrax and plague vaccines.

One of the acquired vaccines, Avecia’s rPA vaccine, which has completed Phase 2 clinical testing, is a second-generation rPA anthrax vaccine for use against human anthrax infection.

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In February 2008, the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) issued a formal solicitation (request for proposals) for an Anthrax Recombinant Protective Antigen (rPA) Vaccine for the Strategic National Stockpile (SNS). The solicitation outlines a requirement to procure 25 million doses of an rPA anthrax vaccine.

PharmAthene release (PDF)