Dive Brief:
- With the acquisition of Switzerland-based GlycoVaxyn, GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) is enhancing its portfolio with a new type of vaccine technology that targets a broader range of bacterial infections than previously thought possible.
- GSK will also acquire several other early-stage vaccines from GlycoVaxyn in development as part of the deal.
- In other vaccine-related news, Novartis is transferring its vaccine division to GSK for $5.25 billion.
Dive Insight:
As the scourge of multi-drug resistant organism (MDRO) bacterial infections contoinue to contribue to the morbidity and mortality of the population—the CDC reported 23,000 deaths and 2 million hospitalizations in 2014 due to MDRO-related infections, vaccine development is a critical area of R&D.
GSK's portfolio will now offer a broader range of vaccination options, including vaccines for meningitis, as well as hard-to-treat Pseudomonas aureus and Staphylococcus aureus..