GSK Sells Two Vaccines to Pfizer to Ease Antirturst Worries

Pfizer Inc. has agreed two acquire meningitis vaccines from GlaxoSmithKline PLC for about $130 million, a move to expand its global reach in preventing meningococcal disease.

New York-based Pfizer said it would buy Nimenrix and Mencevax, both single-dose meningococcal vaccines. Nimenrix, launched three years ago, is approved for sale in 61 countries outside of the U.S. Mencevax, approved in 79 countries outside of the U.S., is used to control outbreaks of meningococcal infection and for travelers to countries where the disease is endemic.

The acquisitions follow Pfizer's purchase last year of Baxter International Inc.'s meningococcal disease vaccine NeisVac-C, as well as approval in the U.S. of its drug Trumenba to protect against erogroup B meningococcal disease in individuals 10 through 25 years of age.

Adding the two latest vaccines "will allow us to more completely respond to meningococcal disease outbreaks," said president for Pfizer Vaccines, Susan Silbermann.

The transaction is expected to be completed in the second half of this year and isn't expected to have any significant impact on this year's financial performance, Pfizer said.