AstraZeneca Share Price Edged Up 1.87% on $1.1Bn Acquisition

The AstraZeneca plc (LON: AZN) share price edged up 1.87% after announcing that it had finalized an agreement to acquire Icosavax, Inc., U.S.-based biopharmaceutical company specializing in the development of unique, promising vaccines through a novel protein virus-like particle (VLP) platform for $1.1 billion.

This acquisition aligns with AstraZeneca's established proficiency in respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), notably enhancing its late-stage pipeline in Vaccines & Immune Therapies.

A key aspect of the acquisition is Icosavax's leading investigational vaccine candidate, IVX-A12. This groundbreaking, Phase III-ready, combination protein VLP vaccine targets both RSV and human metapneumovirus (hMPV). 

These viruses are major contributors to severe respiratory infections and hospitalizations, particularly in adults aged 60 and over and those with chronic health issues like cardiovascular, renal, and respiratory diseases. Currently, there are no specific treatments or preventive measures for hMPV, and no combination vaccines exist for RSV.

IVX-A12 stands out as the most advanced vaccine candidate targeting both RSV and hMPV, showing a unique profile compared to existing RSV vaccines. The results from Phase II trials indicate that IVX-A12 prompts strong immune responses against both viruses one month post-vaccination, supporting the findings of the Phase I trial.

One significant advantage of VLP vaccines is their ability to imitate the appearance of natural viruses to the immune system. 

This feature could lead to several benefits over non-VLP vaccines, such as a more potent immune response, broader protection, longer-lasting effects with fewer booster requirements, and, in comparison to the current adjuvanted RSV vaccine, fewer side effects.

The acquisition will not only incorporate Icosavax's proprietary technology into AstraZeneca's portfolio but will also bring in their expertise and capabilities in protein virus-like particle science. This is expected to bolster the development of IVX-A12 and other specialized VLP vaccines targeting high-impact respiratory infections.

Iskra Reic, Executive Vice President, Vaccines & Immune Therapies, AstraZeneca, said: “This virus-like particle vaccine technology has the potential to transform prevention against severe infectious diseases, including RSV and hMPV. With the addition of Icosavax's Phase III-ready lead asset to our late-stage pipeline, we will have a differentiated, advanced investigational vaccine, and a platform for further development of combination vaccines against respiratory viruses.”

AstraZeneca share price. 

The AstraZeneca share price edged up 1.87% to trade at 10283.0p from Monday’s closing price of 10094.0p.