Investor Updates
Australian biotech start-up secures global deal
25 October 2012
Vaxxas, an Australian biotechnology start-up, has secured on a research collaboration agreement with major US pharmaceutical company Merck.
Under the agreement, Merck (known as MSD in Australia and everywhere else) will pay an upfront fee and will provide funding to Vaxxas to conduct research evaluating the potential of using Vaxxas' Nanopatch platform for a Merck vaccine candidate.
Vaxxas will also be able to receive additional payments based on the achievement of milestones and future vaccine sales.
Minister for Industry and Innovation, Greg Combet, said collaboration reflects the potential significance of Vaxxas' Nanopatch and may one day change the way vaccinations are administered.
“The deal is further evidence of the capability of Australian companies and their innovations. International partnerships and collaborations like these demonstrate the talent in our biotechnology sector."
Besides being a needle-free alternative to delivering vaccines, the Nanopatch uses as little as one hundredth of the usual dose and eliminates the need for refrigeration.
Vaxxas was formed in August 2011 by a $15 million syndicate of venture capital funds. Three of these - One Ventures, Brandon Capital Partners, and the Medical Research Commercialisation Fund - are licensed under the Australian Government's Innovation Investment Fund.
The Nanopatch was invented in 2004 by Professor Mark Kendall from the University of Queensland's Australian Institute of Bioengineering and Nanotechnology.
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