PharmAthene Signs Definitive Agreement to Acquire Biodefense Vaccines Business from Avecia

PharmAthene, Inc., a biodefense company specializing in the development and commercialization of medical countermeasures against biological and chemical threats, and Avecia Biologics Limited, a contract manufacturer of biopharmaceuticals, announced that the companies have entered into a definitive sale and purchase agreement under which PharmAthene will acquire all of the assets and intellectual property related to Avecia's biodefense vaccines business.

The acquisition includes a second generation recombinant Protective Antigen (rPA) anthrax vaccine, a recombinant dual antigen plague vaccine, and a third generation rPA anthrax vaccine program. As part of this agreement, PharmAthene and Avecia Biologics have entered into a long-term manufacturing contract for the supply of these vaccine drug substances to PharmAthene.

David P. Wright, President and Chief Executive Officer of PharmAthene, commented, "Our acquisition of Avecia's biodefense vaccine assets significantly advances PharmAthene's strategy of building a leading biodefense company with a comprehensive portfolio of medical countermeasures that specifically meet the requirements for procurement established by the United States Government.”

“Importantly, the rPA anthrax vaccine presents a promising near-term procurement opportunity for PharmAthene based upon a recently issued government solicitation outlining requirements to procure 25 million doses of an rPA vaccine," Wright noted.