AstraZeneca Plc is to acquire Icosavax Inc of Seattle, US, a developer of virus-like particle (VLP) vaccines in a bid to strengthen its late-stage pipeline for candidate vaccines and immune therapies. The deal, valued at up to $1.1 billion if all contingent requirements are met, will build on the UK company’s experience developing two products for the prevention of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), a major cause of acute respiratory infection in individuals of all age groups.
