Bio Usawa, Nanoly Bioscience in $500M Vaccine Tech Deal
Bio Usawa, a firm focused on global biopharmaceutical access, and Nanoly Bioscience have announced a definitive $500 million licensing agreement. The deal is for Nanoly's DynaShield™ technology, a chemical stabilization method designed to eliminate the need for a "cold chain" in vaccine and biopharmaceutical transport.
- The "cold chain" is a significant barrier to global vaccine distribution, with the World Health Organization estimating that up to 50% of vaccines may be wasted each year due to issues with temperature control and logistics. - Nanoly's DynaShield™ technology works by encapsulating vaccine molecules in a hydrogel matrix made from a polymer called polyethylene glycol (PEG), which is already FDA-approved for medical use. The vaccine is released at the point of use through exposure to a specific wavelength of benign, low-intensity light. - Bio Usawa is focused on manufacturing affordable biosimilars, particularly monoclonal antibodies, for patients in Africa. The company is currently building modular biomanufacturing facilities in Kigali, Rwanda, and Kenya. - The company's co-founder and CEO, Dr. Menghis Bairu, previously led R&D due diligence for Elan Pharmaceuticals in deals valued at approximately $1.5 billion with Johnson & Johnson and the company's $8.6 billion sale to Perrigo. - Nanoly Bioscience was co-founded in 2012 by Balaji Sridhar, who was a PhD candidate at the University of Colorado at the time. The technology was originally developed in the university's labs. - The agreement grants Bio Usawa exclusive worldwide rights to use and sublicense the DynaShield™ technology, not only for its own portfolio but also in third-party biologics and vaccines. - Eliminating the need for refrigeration is expected to significantly lower distribution costs and expand reliable access to life-saving therapies in regions with limited or unreliable electricity.
