French firm Osivax grants rights to KM Biologics to develop and market influenza vaccine in Japan

Osivax, a FRance-based biopharmaceutical company developing vaccines to provide broad-spectrum protection against highly mutating respiratory viruses, and KM Biologics Co., Ltd., a leading vaccine manufacturer in Japan, have announced a license option agreement granting KM Biologics an exclusive license option to develop, manufacture and commercialise Osivax’s broad-spectrum 'universal' influenza vaccine candidates for the Japanese market.

Osivax will receive an upfront payment for the execution of the license option agreement and, upon KM Biologics exercising the option, Osivax will be entitled to an additional upfront payment, payments upon achievement of several development and regulatory milestones, and tiered royalties per candidate. Financial details of the license option agreement have not been disclosed.

“We highly value the opportunity to collaborate with KM Biologics, an experienced and established influenza vaccine developer and manufacturer in Japan. This presents an exciting opportunity for us to expand the reach of our broad-spectrum ‘universal’ influenza vaccine candidates to a country that is at the forefront of seasonal and pandemic flu prevention,” said Alexandre Le Vert, CEO and Co-Founder of Osivax. “The license option agreement underscores the potential of our oligoDOM technology to generate T-Cell vaccines capable of providing universal protection against current and future influenza strains on a global scale.”

“We are impressed with the innovative potential of Osivax’s broad-spectrum ‘universal’ influenza vaccine candidates and oligoDOM technology,” commented Toshiaki Nagasato, President and Representative Director of KM Biologics. “This license option agreement opens the possibility for us to utilize KM Biologics’ capabilities, partnerships, and extensive market knowledge to bring Osivax’s novel influenza vaccines to Japan. The opportunity of this new approach to meeting the diverse needs in the influenza vaccine market will further improve vaccination rates and better control influenza disease burden, contributing towards the enhancement of the public health.”