Nuron Biotech acquired Meningitec™, a preservative free vaccine registered in 23 countries for the prevention of invasive disease caused by Neisseria meningitidis serogroup C, from Pfizer.
N. meningitidis is a major cause of infectious disease worldwide that can lead to meningitis, sepsis, and pneumonia with a majority of cases occurring in children. Without treatment, mortality is up to 90%, and death may occur within 48 hours. Nuron will work closely with Pfizer to continue the availability of Meningitec to patients.
“We are planning to expand into markets with unvaccinated and under-vaccinated populations, helping us address public health needs around the world,” said Richard C. Dinovitz, vp, marketing and business development at Nuron Biotech.
N. meningitides live asymptomatically in the nasopharynx in approximately 10-25% of the population and may enter the bloodstream through the nose and throat, potentially affecting multiple areas throughout the body. N. meningitidis is estimated to cause 500,000 cases of disease annually worldwide with a 10-20% fatality rate.
In two similar deals earlier this year, Nuron Biotech licensed a gene-based (DNA) amyloid beta 42 vaccine for Alzheimer’s disease from VITRUVIAN BioMedical and acquired an exclusive license of technology and product rights relating to Chimigen® multi-antigen vaccines from Akshaya Bio for hepatitis B.