US-based firm VBI Vaccines Inc. has announced the expansion of its hepatitis B (HBV) partnership with Brii Biosciences, a startup based out of China. Through two license and collaboration agreements, Brii Bio expands its exclusive license to VBI-2601 (BRII-179), VBI’s HBV immunotherapeutic candidate, to global rights and has acquired an exclusive license for PreHevbri, VBI’s 3-antigen hepatitis B vaccine, in the Asia Pacific region (APAC).

With over 150 million HBV infected people in APAC, improvements in prevention and treatment strategies in this region are essential. 

As part of the collaborations, Brii Bio will pay VBI an upfront payment of $15 million, including an equity investment of approximately $3 million, contingent on achievement of near-term milestones. VBI is also eligible to receive up to an additional $422 million in potential regulatory and commercial milestone payments, and potential double-digit royalties in the licensed territories, which is worldwide for VBI-2601 and APAC, excluding Japan, for PreHevbri.

Brii Bio will be responsible for all development, regulatory, and commercialisation activities and costs for the two programmes in their respective licensed territories. VBI will retain global rights to PreHevbri outside of APAC.

PreHevbri is the only 3-antigen hepatitis B vaccine, comprised of the three hepatitis B surface antigens of the hepatitis B virus – S, pre-S1, and pre-S2. It is approved for use in the United States, European Union/European Economic Area, United Kingdom, Canada, and Israel. The brand names for this vaccine are: PreHevbrio® (US/Canada), PreHevbri® (EU/EEA/UK), and Sci-B-Vac® (Israel).