AstraZeneca completes $1.1B acquisition of UW spinout Icosavax
AstraZeneca announced the closing of a $1.1 billion acquisition deal of Icosavax, a Seattle-based biopharmaceutical company. Icosavax’s brand will be absorbed into the larger company and the majority of its nearly 70 employees are expected to stay on with AstraZeneca.
Founded in 2017 and originating from the University of Washington’s Institute for Protein Design, Icosavax’s lead candidate, IVX-A12, targets respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and human metapneumovirus (HMPV), both significant causes of severe respiratory infections. AstraZeneca plans to advance IVX-A12 into phase 3 clinical trials.
“We look forward to combining our skills and expertise in advancing the development of IVX-A12 with AstraZeneca’s decades of experience in RSV, resources, and capabilities in late-stage development,” said Icosavax CEO, Adam Simpson.