Aeras, IDT Biologika form a strategic partnership with acquisition of Aeras’s manufacturing facility

Aeras is a non-profit biotech organization with offices in the U.S., China, and South Africa, working to develop new tuberculosis (TB) vaccines that are affordable and accessible to all who need them. IDT Biologika is a privately-held company with more than 90 years of experience researching, developing, manufacturing and marketing biologics for the global protection of human and animal health. This strategic partnership allows each organization to focus on its core strengths, with Aeras concentrating its resources on TB vaccine development and IDT working to grow this new commercial entity for vaccine development manufacturing.

“IDT‘s vaccine business is successful with strong global partnerships. We plan the expansion of capacity for new development projects and small scale product batches through internal investment and by acquisitions,” said Dr. Ralf Pfirmann, CEO of IDT Biologika. “Therefore the partnership with Aeras is a logical step for IDT. Aeras contract manufacturing activities complement IDT‘s capabilities, they enable clinical phase 1 and 2 projects and provide early development capabilities to enhance IDT´s vaccine business pipeline. Overall, this new entity as part of IDT Biologika Corporation, our US entity, brings both development and manufacturing activities to our U.S. market offering.”

IDT and Aeras will jointly share occupancy of the current Aeras location in Rockville, Maryland. Within the partnership Aeras will work closely with IDT on process development and manufacturing of candidate TB vaccines.

Both organizations are pleased with the acquisition of the manufacturing facility and how it positions each organization for success. “This acquisition represents a unique opportunity to enable the expansion of the manufacturing facility, staff team, and expertise developed by Aeras and to allow the facility to further develop under a commercial structure,” said Dr. Andreas Neubert, Vice President of IDT’s Vaccine Business. “IDT Biologika and Aeras believe that this facility within the IDT organization will continue to be an important and agile manufacturing asset supporting global health. Therefore we intend to upgrade the manufacturing infrastructure soon.”

While the acquisition was completed yesterday, Aeras and IDT will work closely together over the next few months to ensure a successful transition of ongoing projects. “We are delighted to be working with IDT, an organization with a strong commitment to meeting global health needs,” said Thomas G. Evans, M.D., Aeras CEO. “Our TB vaccine development partners will also benefit from our relationship with IDT, which will provide enhanced efficiencies, new expertise, and new technologies, as IDT brings its own resources, customer base, and skills to the Biopharmaceutical Development Center.”

The partnership provides a successful commercial operations team to secure the long-term future of Aeras’s BDC, according to Jacqueline E. Shea, Ph.D., Aeras COO. “We are very excited to be partnering with IDT, a well-established contract manufacturing organization with a reputation for operational excellence. This transition enables continued stewardship of the facility for global health needs, maintains specialist skills and expertise developed over many years, and importantly retains access for Aeras to the manufacturing facility and expertise for the pipeline of TB vaccine candidates.”

HighBank Advisors LLC served as exclusive financial advisor to Aeras and Pepper Hamilton LLP and Foley & Lardner LLP served as legal advisors to Aeras and IDT, respectively.

About Aeras

Aeras is a nonprofit biotech advancing the development of tuberculosis vaccines for the world. In collaboration with global partners in Africa, Asia, North America and Europe, Aeras is supporting the clinical testing of six experimental vaccines as well as a robust portfolio of earlier stage candidates. Aeras receives funding from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the UK Department for International Development, the Netherlands’ Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Australian AID, and a range of other governments. Aeras is based in Rockville, Maryland; Cape Town, South Africa; and Beijing, China. www.aeras.org

About IDT Biologika

Founded in 1921 the company focuses on three core areas – animal health, vaccines and pharmaceuticals. IDT Biologika offers innovative solutions for next generation vaccines. IDT Biologika, a global leader in MVA technology, develops new technologies for multiple innovative vaccines. The company offers development services and manufacturing facilities for clinical phase I to III as well as commercial supplies for leading-edge viral and bacterial human and animal health vaccines. IDT Biologika is one of the few companies worldwide with the capacity for large-scale campaign manufacture of vaccine batches of different vaccine products using multipurpose production technology. IDT Biologika is a company of the Klocke Holding Group. The Klocke Holding Group companies specialize in contract manufacturing and packaging of pharmaceuticals, vaccines, and cosmetic products. With more than 1,800 employees at six locations in Europe and the USA, the traditionally family-owned Klocke Group offers comprehensive services for production and packaging of pharmaceutical products. www.idt-corporation.com

Source: Aeras