Clover Enters into Exclusive Agreement to Commercialize Quadrivalent Seasonal Influenza Vaccine in Mainland China
Clover Biopharmaceuticals, Ltd. announced that it entered into an exclusive agreement with Adimmune Corporation for Clover to distribute AdimFlu-S (QIS) in mainland China, where it is the only imported quadrivalent seasonal influenza vaccine approved for use in individuals aged three years and older. The agreement also grants Clover rights to commercialize AdimFlu-S (QIS) in Bangladesh, Brazil and the Philippines, contingent on regulatory approvals, and to potentially collaborate with Adimmune on the development of additional vaccine candidates including next-generation influenza vaccines.
“We are delighted to form this strategic partnership with Adimmune, a company with a stellar track record in manufacturing and supplying critical vaccines to populations in Asia—particularly as the market for flu vaccines generally, and quadrivalent vaccines specifically, is poised for significant growth in mainland China,” said Joshua Liang, Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director of Clover. “This partnership also brings Clover one step closer to establishing a leading respiratory vaccine franchise, and allows us to realize synergies with the ongoing commercialization of our COVID-19 vaccine.”
Under the terms of the agreement, Clover gains commercial rights to AdimFlu-S (QIS) in mainland China, Bangladesh, Brazil and the Philippines. In the near term with commercial launch in H2 2023, Clover will be responsible for the distribution of AdimFlu-S (QIS) throughout mainland China, where the vaccine is already approved and where Clover can leverage its existing commercial infrastructure and growing sales organization. Clover’s commercialization of AdimFlu-S (QIS) in Bangladesh, Brazil and the Philippines is contingent on regulatory approvals. Adimmune will manufacture AdimFlu-S (QIS) at its manufacturing facility which has been certified for good manufacturing practices (GMP) by the European Medicines Agency and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, among others.
“We are very pleased to partner with Clover, with its growing commercial presence in mainland China and impressive record of successful cross-border collaboration,” said Dr. Chi-Hsien Chan, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Adimmune. “We also have a shared commitment to improving seasonal influenza vaccination coverage, particularly for elderly populations who are most at-risk, with our high-quality quadrivalent vaccine.”
The partnership with Adimmune represents an important milestone in Clover’s efforts to build a leading respiratory franchise. It follows the launch of Clover’s COVID-19 vaccine, a recombinant SARS-CoV-2 subunit vaccine, in mainland China. Within a growing and stable market for influenza vaccines in mainland China, this deal is expected to be accretive to Clover’s financials in 2023 and contribute meaningful growth in 2024 and beyond.
AdimFlu-S (QIS) is a quadrivalent split inactivated vaccine intended for use in the prevention of influenza. As a quadrivalent vaccine, it contains hemagglutinin from four influenza virus strains (two A and two B), which increases its chances of achieving high vaccine effectiveness regardless of which influenza B strain becomes seasonally prevalent relative to trivalent options1,2. AdimFlu-S (QIS) was approved by the China National Medical Products Administration in January 2022 for individuals aged three years and older.