Emergent BioSolutions Expands Presence In Germany
Acquires Vivacs GmbH Along with Rights to Modified Vaccinia Virus Ankara (MVA) Strain and Monoclonal Vector Technology Platform (MVAtorTM)
GAITHERSBURG, MD., August 03, 2006—Emergent BioSolutions Inc., a privately held biopharmaceutical company, today announced it has completed the acquisition of Vivacs GmbH, a privately held biotechnology company based in Munich, Germany. Financial details of the transaction were not disclosed.
Emergent BioSolutions, which has an existing sales and marketing presence in Munich, now adds a product development capability to its German operations. Dr. Andreas Hartmann, who currently serves as President of Emergent BioSolutions’ sales and marketing subsidiary in Munich, will also serve as the President of the newly established development subsidiary.
As a result of the transaction, Emergent BioSolutions will acquire a worldwide license to a modified vaccinia virus Ankara (MVA) strain that is owned by the Bavarian State Ministry of the Environment, Public Health and Consumer Protection (StMUGV). The company will also gain exclusive rights to Vivacs’ proprietary MVAtor™ platform technology, which is being developed as a viral vector for delivery of multiple vaccine antigens for different disease-causing organisms using recombinant technology.
“The acquisition of Vivacs and its related viral vector technologies complements our existing personnel and technology base and broadens our abilities in the development of novel vaccines,” said Fuad El-Hibri, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Emergent BioSolutions. “This transaction underscores our continued commitment to broadening our pipeline and to expanding our global operations.”
About Emergent BioSolutions Inc.
Emergent BioSolutions Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company dedicated to protecting life through the development, manufacture, and commercialization of immunobioticsTM, which are pharmaceutical products that induce the immune system to prevent or treat disease. These include products for prophylactic and therapeutic use against infectious diseases with significant unmet or underserved medical needs and against biological agents that are potential weapons of bioterrorism. The Company currently employs more than 450 people with sites in Maryland, Michigan, the United Kingdom, Germany, and the Republic of Singapore. More information about Emergent BioSolutions is available at www.emergentbiosolutions.com.
Media Contact:
Robert G. Burrows
Vice President, Corporate Communications
Emergent BioSolutions Inc.
301-944-0108