Novavax licenses virus-like particles

ROCKVILLE, Md.—In a deal that could reach $5 million, Novavax announced it signed a non-exclusive worldwide license agreement with Wyeth for rights to the latter's virus-like particle (VLP) technology for vaccine development. The deal includes upfront payments, as well as annual license fees, milestone payments, and royalties on sales of products arising from the deal.

 

"We are delighted to have completed this license agreement with Wyeth and see this license as another important step in building a strong intellectual property position for our influenza vaccine programs," says Rahul Singhvi, Novavax president and CEO.

 

VLPs have gained much attention in recent years as various labs worldwide have suggested that the protein complexes are able to induce stronger immune responses than typical vaccine antigens because of their structural similarity to viruses. Unlike viruses, however, VLPs lack genetic material and are therefore non-infectious.