Novavax, Bharat Biotech Team for Pandemic Influenza Vaccine Development

Novavex Inc. (Malvern, PA, www.novavex.com) and Bharat Biotech International Limited  (BBIL, Hyderabad, India, www.bharatbiotech.com) have formed a strategic alliance to develop a pandemic influenza vaccine for India and certain other south Asian markets.

BBIL will fund 100% of the preclinical and clinical studies for these markets and assist in developing an efficient manufacturing process for the virus-like particle (VLP)–based influenza vaccine. BBIL also will be responsible for the sale and distribution of the vaccine in India and other surrounding countries. Novavax will receive unrestricted access to all preclinical and clinical data generated by BBIL and will receive a double-digit royalty on all future sales located within BBIL’s geographic territories.

Novavax has recently adopted a manufacturing process that it says reduces contamination risk and produces high, cost-effective yields of the influenza VLP vaccine.