Thursday, August 6, 2009

Emergent BioSolutions Buys Rival Vaccine for $2 Million

Lansing-based Emergent BioSolutions picked up its U.S. rival’s anthrax vaccination technology for $2 million, strengthening the company’s ability to make a second anthrax vaccination.

According to excerpts from the article:

In Lansing, the acquisition of VaxGen Inc.’s vaccine could add a second product line at a new plant.

Based in Rockville, Md., Emergent currently makes the BioThrax vaccine in Lansing.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is expected to seek 25 million doses of such a vaccine later this year, Emergent said.

“We felt this was the right opportunity for our company at the right time,” Emergent Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Fuad El-Hibri said in the company’s announcement.