Kromann Reumert and global law firm Reed Smith advised Danish biotech company Bavarian Nordic on a license and supply agreement for its MVA-BN Ebola Vaccine with world the leading pharmaceutical company Janssen (part of Johnson & Johnson) to develop a new Ebola vaccine.

Under the agreement, Bavarian Nordic will grant Janssen an exclusive license for its multivalent MVA-BN Filovirus vaccine.

Preclinical studies involving Bavarian Nordic’s vaccine and Janssen’s AdVac technology recently demonstrated complete protection against Ebola. The total potential agreement value (including upfront payments, equity investment, milestones and the supply contract) is in excess of US$187 million.

Bavarian Nordic aims to manufacture more than 1 million doses of the vaccine for 2015 clinic trials and emergency use in the current Ebola outbreak in West Africa. Janssen is working closely with authorities as part of its prioritised efforts to make the vaccines available for emergency use to help contain the current outbreak.

Kromann Reumert and Reed Smith worked with the deal team at Bavarian Nordic to get the transaction documents signed within a tight deadline to enable Janssen to progress these efforts as quickly as possible. Kromann Reumert partner Michael Pitzner-Bruun and Reed Smith partner John Wilkinson advised on the licensing agreement. Kromann Reumert partners Marianne Philip and Jens Steen Jensen advised on the transaction.

Chairman of the Board of Directors at Kromann Reumert Marianne Philip commented on the deal:
"The Ebola outbreak in West Africa is a race against time and represents an increasing threat to global health. So the deal between Bavarian Nordic and Janssen to come together to develop an Ebola vaccine is groundbreaking. We are delighted to have played a part in this effort by advising Bavarian Nordic. Together with Bavarian Nordic and Reed Smith we have worked around the clock to complete the deal and enable Bavarian Nordic and Janssen to begin developing a vaccine as quickly as possible."