GSK has acquired GlycoVaxyn AG, a specialist vaccine biopharmaceutical company based in Switzerland. Since forming a scientific collaboration in 2012, GSK says it has held a minority stake in GlycoVaxyn and has now acquired the remaining shares for US $190 million in cash to take full ownership of the company.
GlycoVaxyn has developed an innovative biological conjugation platform technology which has the potential to play an important role in the development of new prophylactic and therapeutic vaccines for a range of bacterial diseases, according to a press release. This proprietary technology also has the potential to enable GSK to develop a simplified conjugate vaccine manufacturing process.
GSK will also acquire a small number of early stage vaccines in development against bacterial infections such as pneumonia, Pseudomonas, Staphylococcus aureus andShigellosis, supplementing the company’s existing vaccines pipeline.
Dr. Moncef Slaoui, Chairman of Vaccines, GSK said: “This is an exciting opportunity to expand our research efforts to develop a new generation of vaccines for common and severe bacterial infections, for many of which there are currently no effective vaccines. It reinforces our commitment to seek out and invest in great science and complements our proposed transaction with Novartis which will strengthen our leading position in vaccines.”
GSK has now purchased all shares in GlycoVaxyn, valuing the company at $212 million. Read the full release
