Valvena, GSK Sign New R&D Collaboration

Valneva SE has announced that it has signed a new R&D collaboration agreement with GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) for the development of EB66® -based Influenza vaccines. Under the agreement, Valneva will conduct an R&D program on behalf of GSK to develop and improve upstream processes which will serve for the manufacturing of Influenza vaccines based on Valneva’s EB66® cell line. 

The program received the full support of the US Department of Health and Services (HHS) which encourages the development of new vaccine technologies in order to prevent and treat diseases including Influenza through its dedicated arm, the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA). In the frame of today’s collaboration contract between GlaxoSmithKline and Valneva, BARDA will oversee and finance part of the advanced development program. 

In May 2007, Valneva granted an exclusive commercial license to GSK to develop and market worldwide pandemic and seasonal human Influenza vaccines using Valneva’s EB66® cell line. Under the 2007 agreement, Valneva is entitled to receive milestone payments as well as royalties associated with future sales. Under the collaboration agreement , Valneva also secured additional research fees. 

Thomas Lingelbach, President and Chief Executive Officer and Franck Grimaud, Deputy CEO of Valneva, commented “We are very pleased to extend our long term collaboration with GlaxoSmithKline and we are honored to see BARDA supporting the GSK vaccine approach based on our EB66® cell platform. This again illustrates the fact that EB66® is today recognized by leading healthcare institutions worldwide as one of the most efficient technologies to produce next generation vaccines.” 

The treatment and prevention of influenza is a major market, especially in the US. According to the Centers for Disease Control1 (CDC), seasonal influenza vaccination only should lead to the distribution of between 171 to 179 million doses of vaccines in the US for the 2015-16 flu season.