Takeda to buy LigoCyte Pharmaceuticals for US$60m

Published: 8-Oct-2012

Gains norovirus vaccine candidate and virus-like particle platform


Japanese pharmaceutical firm Takeda is to pay US$60m to purchase US-based LigoCyte Pharmaceuticals and expand its newly formed vaccines division.

Takeda will pay more depending on the progress of certain projects being developed by LigoCyte.

LigoCyte is a privately-owned biopharmaceutical company specialising in vaccine products headquartered in Bozeman, Montana. Its lead product, a vaccine to prevent norovirus gastroenteritis, is in phase I/II of clinical development.

Rajeev Venkayya, executive vice president of Takeda’s Vaccine Business Division (VBD), formed in January, said norovirus is the most common cause of outbreaks of gastroenteritis and foodborne illness in the US, and is responsible for 200,000 deaths each year, most of them in developing countries.

‘With the only norovirus vaccine in clinical trials today, Takeda will be in a position to change this picture,’ he said.

LigoCyte develops innovative vaccine products based on its proprietary virus-like particle platform (VLP) technology. The firm’s norovirus vaccine uses VLP technology, which enables the production of vaccines to protect against multiple strains of norovirus.

In addition to the norovirus vaccine candidate, LigoCyte has also initiated preclinical development of vaccines against respiratory syncytial virus, influenza and rotavirus.

‘LigoCyte is pleased to become a part of a leading research-based global pharmaceutical company with a commitment to vaccines and the resources to develop our pipeline,’ said Donald Beeman, chief executive of LigoCyte.

‘Together, we believe we have the right combination of expertise and dedication to bring our norovirus vaccine to market.’ Takeda says LigoCyte will continue to operate in Montana for the foreseeable future and retain the management team and its employees.

The deal is expected to close in November.

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