Emergent BioSolutions and Rocketvax Announce Investment Agreement to Advance Next-Generation Product Candidates
Emergent BioSolutions Inc., a leading public health company that delivers protective and life-saving solutions to communities across the world, and Rocketvax Ltd, one of Switzerland’s next-generation vaccine companies and a member of the Swiss Rockets Ltd family of companies, announced entry into an agreement for Emergent’s strategic financial investment into Swiss Rockets Ltd, the parent company of Rocketvax Ltd, to support research, infrastructure development, and the expansion of Swiss Rockets’ innovative biotechnology portfolio. This endeavor underscores Emergent’s commitment to supporting Swiss Rockets’ broader mission of pioneering breakthrough medical technologies.
In addition to the investment, the parties intend to form a strategic partnership whereby Emergent would lead the U.S. manufacturing and commercialization efforts for four of Rocketvax’s pipeline candidates for infectious diseases, cancer, and autoimmune disorders. For one of these pipeline candidates, Rocketvax Ltd has already signed a letter of intent with the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH). The Rocketvax / NIH collaboration is part of the Project NextGen initiative and will support a clinical trial investigating a next generation vaccine using Rocketvax Ltd’s proprietary technology.
One of Rocketvax’s leading candidates is a live-attenuated nasal spray SARS-CoV-2 vaccine, which has demonstrated superior efficacy compared to mRNA COVID-19 vaccines in animal studies. Live-attenuated vaccines mimic natural infections more closely, often providing stronger and longer-lasting immunity by stimulating a broader immune response, including mucosal immunity, which is crucial for respiratory infections.
Joe Papa, President and CEO of Emergent, commented: “We are excited to partner with Rocketvax to accelerate the development of innovative products that address significant public health challenges. As Rocketvax is poised to progress its pipeline, we will stand ready to leverage our unique capabilities to ultimately bring these solutions to patients and communities in need. These four projects directly support Emergent’s strategic focus on growth and turnaround as part of our multi-year transformation plan.”
Dr. Vladimir Cmiljanovic, CEO of Rocketvax Ltd, added: “This collaboration is a game-changer for Rocketvax and the broader biotech industry. By partnering with Emergent BioSolutions, we are combining cutting-edge vaccine innovation with world-class production and regulatory expertise. This joint venture not only accelerates the development of next-generation vaccines but also paves the way for groundbreaking advancements in global healthcare. Our shared vision is to revolutionize disease prevention and immunotherapy, bringing life-saving solutions to millions worldwide. This collaboration is a major milestone for Rocketvax. By joining forces with Emergent, we can leverage their world-class production capabilities to deliver next-generation vaccines that have the potential to transform disease prevention and immunotherapy.”
