BRIEF—Valneva and IDT Biologika call off COVID-19 collaboration

French specialty vaccine company Valneva and Germany-based IDT Biologika have agreed to terminate their collaboration following the delivery of inactivated COVID-19 bulk vaccine to Valneva, and considering the current order levels and existing inventories.

Under their commercial manufacturing services agreement signed in November 2021, IDT Biologika produced VLA2001 bulk vaccine at its Biosafety Level 3 facilities in Germany, and Valneva bought the batches that were manufactured so far by IDT.

In light of the reduced European Commission order, Valneva has suspended manufacturing of the vaccine and, as compensation, will pay IDT up to 36.2 million euros ($$36.3 million) in cash and the equivalent of 4.5 million euros in kind, in the form of specified equipment purchased by Valneva.