Emergent buys anthrax mAb raxibacumab from GSK, takes on BARDA deal

The Gaithersburg, Maryland firm completed the acquisition of IP related to raxibacumab from GSK's unit Human Genome Sciences this week.

The deal​ – which was announced in July – saw Emergent pay GSK $76m in cash and agree to make further payments of $20m based on the achievement of certain manufacturing and sales milestones.

Emergent said that, in addition to buying the right to make raxibacumab, it had taken on a multi-year supply contract with Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA).

BARDA, the bioterrorism countermeasure wing of the US Department of Health and Human Services, manages the US Strategic National Stockpile (SNS) of antibiotics, vaccines, chemical antidotes, antitoxins, and other critical medical equipment and supplies.

CEO Daniel J. Abdun-Nabi said: "The acquisition of raxibacumab​ expands Emergent's portfolio of approved medical countermeasures that address public health threats and reflects our commitment to meeting our customers' preparedness needs​."

"We look forward to continuing to supply the SNS with this and other critical countermeasures that address Category A bioterrorism threats such as anthrax, botulism, and smallpox​."

Emergent said that “raxibacumab will be additive to revenue by approximately $9m and neutral to GAAP net income​” explaining this would reflect “the impact of initial costs to begin the process of transferring raxibacumab manufacturing from GSK​.”