William Blair analyst Amanda Murphy says speculation involving an acquisition of Pacific Biosciences (PACB) has increased in recent weeks. Fueling the speculation is Roche's (RHHBY) research and development investment and the pending launch of a clinical sequencer by the company based on the Pacific Biosciences Sequel in the second half of 2016, Murphy tells investors in a research note. Further, the Daily Mail in late December published commentary that GlaxoSmithkline (GSK) was interested in Pacific, with estimates suggesting a theoretical price of $20 per share, the analyst points out. She calls Roche the obvious buyer for the company, but admits other bidders are possible. Some type of transaction expanding PacBio's distribution capabilities "may come sooner than expected," Murphy writes. She believes a takeout price of $16 per share would meet shareholder approval and be reflective of the long-term revenue opportunity for the Sequel. The analyst has an Outperform rating on Pacific Biosciences. The stock is currently up 1c to $12.14.

Due to a rapidly changing epidemiological environment following the end of the COVID-19 pandemic, CureVac and GSK decided to end the Pandemic Preparedness Agreement jointly concluded with the Federal Republic of Germany in April 2022. This decision was made after consultation with the German Federal Ministry of Health and the German Center for Pandemic Vaccines and Therapeutics. The agreement included the provision of production capacity and supply of mRNA-based vaccines in the event of a public health emergency in Germany. Termination will take effect on May 31, 2024, with no further financial obligations. Completion of CureVac's GMP IV manufacturing plant for the production mRNA-based vaccines is unaffected and progressing. Contingent upon regulatory approval, the facility is expected to be certified in the second half of 2024.

CureVac (CVAC) announced the start of the Phase 1 part of a combined Phase 1/2 study of an investigational influenza A pre-pandemic vaccine candidate developed in collaboration with GSK (GSK). The H5N1 avian influenza virus is considered a potential future pandemic threat, known to sporadically cross species from its original bird host to other animal hosts and humans. The monovalent vaccine candidate is based on CureVac's proprietary second-generation mRNA backbone and encodes an influenza A H5-antigen. The combined Phase 1/2 study will evaluate the safety, reactogenicity and immunogenicity of an investigational influenza A pre-pandemic vaccine candidate in healthy younger adults aged 18 to 64 and healthy older adults aged 65 to 85. In the initial Phase 1 dose-escalation part of the study, up to five dose levels will be assessed compared to a placebo control. The study will be conducted in the United States. The broad CureVac-GSK infectious disease collaboration was first announced in July 2020. It focuses on applying CureVac's mRNA-technology to the development of new products for infectious disease targets.