VBI Vaccines acquires Epixis and its innovative eVLP vaccine platform

USA-based, privately-held biotechnology company VBI Vaccines said yesterday that it has completed the acquisition of Epixis SA, a French biotech firm developing its “eVLP” platform technology for a new generation of virus-like particle (VLP) vaccines. The acquisition, financial terms of which were not disclosed, is complementary to VBI’s suite of thermostable vaccine formulation technologies and enables VBI to develop its own VLP-based vaccines.

“This acquisition enables VBI to strategically build upon our pipeline of innovative vaccine delivery technologies and advance the development of an extremely promising VLP platform,” said Jeff Baxter, president and chief executive of the US company.

VBI and Epixis forged a VLP research collaboration focused on cytomegalovirus (CMV) in June 2010. That successful program made significant research advances in the past year that led to this acquisition and will now be VBI’s priority VLP vaccine candidate.
“There is an undeniable need for a safe and effective CMV vaccine,” said Mr Baxter, adding: “This intersection of scientific innovation and global patient demand is invigorating for all of us and we look forward to continuing our work with Epixis, now as a seamless part of the VBI team.”