Takeda to acquire Inviragen, gaining rights to promising vaccines

Japan’s largest drugmaker Takeda Pharmaceutical (TYO: 4502) has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Inviragen for an upfront of $35 million, and future payments of up to $215 million linked to the progress of clinical development and achievement of key commercial milestones.

Headquartered in Fort Collins, Colorado, with facilities in Madison, Wisconsin, and Singapore, Inviragen is a privately-held biopharmaceutical company specializing in R&D of innovative vaccines for emerging infectious diseases, including dengue and hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD).

“Takeda has taken another major step toward its goal of establishing a world-class global vaccine business by acquiring Inviragen and its advanced vaccine candidate against dengue, a serious mosquito-borne illness that threatens nearly half of the world’s population,” said Rajeev Venkayya, executive vice president and head of Takeda’s Vaccine Business Division.