News Feature | December 4, 2014

Pfizer Wraps Up Baxter Vaccines Acquisition Deal

By Estel Grace Masangkay

Pfizer announced it has officially completed its acquisition of Baxter’s portfolio of commercialized vaccines, which include NeisVac-C and FSME-IMMUN/TicoVac.

NeisVac-C is a vaccine used to provide protection against meningitis caused by group C meningococci (Men C). Men C is one of the most prevalent groups of the infection-causing bacteria worldwide. The infection targets the membrane covering the brain and may be fatal in an estimated 10 to 15 percent of patients. Thirty to over 50 percent of survivors from Men C infection suffer from severe physical, mental, and social damage. NeisVac-C has shown high efficacy in protecting individuals from Men C infection.

FSME-IMMUN/TicoVac vaccine protects against the tick-borne encephalitis (TBE), a brain infection transmitted by the bite of TBE-virus infected ticks. TBE virus causes thousands of cases of neuroinvasive illness in the EU and Asia. The vaccine is currently approved in 30 countries for protection against TBE.

Susan Silbermann, president and general manager of Pfizer Vaccines, said, “NeisVac-C and FSME-IMMUN/Ticovac are a strong fit with our vaccines business and this acquisition adds value, scale and depth to our existing portfolio of innovative vaccines. These best-in-class products enable us to reach a broader population with vaccines that prevent infections from serious and often fatal diseases.”

In July, Baxter announced that it has agreed to sell its marketed vaccines for $636 million to Pfizer. The company said the deal will help it move towards its goal of becoming a separate and independent biopharmaceutical firm. “We are redirecting resources and investing in our robust pipeline centered on core areas of expertise — hematology and immunology — and through technology platforms like gene therapy and biosimilars,” Dr. Ludwig Hantson, president of Baxter BioScience, said at the time. In keeping with the previous announcement, Pfizer also acquired a part of Baxter’s vaccine manufacturing facility located in Orth, Austria.