Emergent BioSolutions Surges

Emergent BioSolutions Inc. (NYSE: EBS) waited until August to announce its first transactions of 2018, but its stock has been rising all year. On August 9, we reported the company acquired specialty vaccine maker PaxVax, Inc. for $270 million. EBS followed that up on August 28 with a $635 million deal for Adapt Pharma, maker of  Narcan® (naloxone HCI) Nasal Spray, the only FDA-approved nasal form of naloxone indicated for the emergency treatment of opioid overdose. Upon closing, Emergent will acquire Narcan and a development pipeline of new treatment and delivery options to address opioid overdose. Narcan is expected to generate revenues of $200 million and be accretive to adjusted net... Read More »
PaxVax Changes Hands Again

PaxVax Changes Hands Again

Specialty vaccine maker PaxVax Inc. has changed owners again, more than doubling its equity value in two and a half years. The Redwood City, California-based company was acquired by Cerberus Capital Management in December 2015 for $105 million from Ignition Growth Capital and other investors. The sellers retained a minority stake, while Cerberus took the majority. In August, the company was sold to Emergent BioSolutions Inc. (NYSE: EBS), which develops and commercializes specialty products for use in biodefense and commercial markets. Emergent paid $270 million, 3.4x revenue, based on statements that the target’s 2019 revenues are expected to be between $70 million and $90 million.... Read More »

Sanofi Rationalizes Its Vaccine Portfolio

Early in July, Sanofi (NYSE: SNY) announced an acquisition and a divestment, both affecting its vaccine business. In a recent annual filing, Sanofi labelled its vaccine unit as an area of priority to sustain its leadership role. To that end, the company has expanded its influenza vaccine portfolio and shed its small pox vaccine business, including its related contract with the Center for Disease Control (CDC). In 2016, Sanofi generated $5.04 billion in net sales from its vaccine products. Its influenza vaccine unit was the second largest contributor to this total, accounting for $1.7 billion in net sales that year, a record year for Sanofi’s influenza campaign. Sanofi Pasteur, the... Read More »