Date: 2013-01-28
Type of information: Joint-venture agreement
Compound: six-in-one combination paediatric vaccine
Company: GSK (UK) Biological E Limited (India)
Therapeutic area: Infectious diseases
Type agreement: joint-venture
Action mechanism:
Disease: polio, diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough (whole cell pertussis), hepatitis B, and Haemophilus influenzae type b infection
Details: GSK and Biological E Limited, an Indian vaccines company, have announced an agreement to form a 50/50 joint venture (JV) for the early stage research and development of a six-in-one combination paediatric vaccine to help protect children in India and other developing countries from polio and other infectious diseases.
If approved, the vaccine, which would combine GSK’s injectable polio vaccine and Biological E’s pentavalent vaccine for diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough (whole cell pertussis), hepatitis B, and Haemophilus influenzae type b, could be the first of its kind. The vaccine would enable fewer injections for children thereby improving compliance in immunisation schedules. The fully liquid formulation of the vaccine also means it would be ready to use with no additional ingredients or materials required, freeing up space at local storage facilities.
The JV will bear the development costs for the candidate vaccine, which is expected to enter phase 1 development in the next two years. A small initial cash investment will be made by both companies to cover start-up costs for the JV and subsequent development costs will be split equally. Completion of the transaction is expected in 2013, subject to several conditions including regulatory approval of the JV.
Financial terms:
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