AstraZeneca (LSE: AZN) (STO: AZN) (Nasdaq: AZN), a science-led biopharmaceutical company, announced on Monday that it has successfully concluded the acquisition of Icosavax Inc, a US-based clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company. Icosavax is now a subsidiary of AstraZeneca, operating in Seattle, US.

The acquisition enhances AstraZeneca's Vaccines & Immune Therapies pipeline, incorporating Icosavax's lead investigational vaccine, IVX-A12. This potential first-in-class, Phase III-ready vaccine targets respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and human metapneumovirus (hMPV).

The transaction, valued at approximately USS1.1bn, involved a cash upfront payment of USD15.00 per share, with an additional non-tradable contingent value right of up to USD5.00 per share. The contingent payments depend on achieving specified regulatory and sales milestones.

IVX-A12, granted Fast Track Designation by the FDA, demonstrates promising Phase II data, eliciting robust immune responses against RSV and hMPV. The investigational vaccine utilizes Icosavax's protein virus-like particle (VLP) platform.

RSV and hMPV are major causes of severe respiratory infections and IVX-A12 addresses a critical gap with no current treatment or preventative therapies for hMPV and no combination vaccines for RSV.

Headquartered in Cambridge, UK, AstraZeneca continues to focus on innovation in respiratory combination vaccines using the differentiated VLP platform, aiming for a stronger and more durable immune response.