Merck Licenses NanoBio Technology

NanoBio Corporation has announced a licensing agreement with a subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc., known as MSD outside the United States and Canada, for the use of its nanoemulsion (NE) adjuvant technology.

Under the agreement, Merck receives exclusive rights to NanoBio’s NE adjuvant for use in an intranasal respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine and non-exclusive rights for use in an intranasal seasonal influenza and/or universal seasonal influenza (“Flu”) vaccine.

NanoBio receives an upfront payment and is eligible to receive milestone payments based on Merck RSV and Flu vaccine candidates' development and regulatory approvals, as well as royalties on sales of any Merck RSV or Flu vaccines that ultimately use the NanoBio NE adjuvant technology.

NanoBio’s NanoStat® technology platform employs a novel oil-in-water nanoemulsion that can incorporate, deliver and adjuvant multiple antigen types. The NE adjuvant is effective when administered via intranasal, intramuscular or subcutaneous vaccination.

In recent studies, NanoBio has demonstrated that intranasal vaccination elicits robust systemic and mucosal immunity, thereby offering enhanced protection against respiratory infections and sexually transmitted diseases compared to intramuscular vaccination.

“We’ve collaborated with Merck on research in RSV since 2011 and are very pleased to broaden our relationship with this license agreement covering vaccine candidates for two respiratory diseases,” said David Peralta, chief executive officer of NanoBio. “Merck’s demonstrated leadership in developing and marketing vaccines makes them an ideal partner for NanoBio.”