Merck Paying $31M Up Front In Dynavax HBV Vaccine Deal

Dynavax Technologies Corp.'s licensing deal with Merck & Co. Inc. to develop the Phase III hepatitis B virus vaccine Heplisav provides $31.5 million up front with $105 million in potential milestone payments plus royalties, as Dynavax continues managing the pivotal studies and the two firms gear up for a biologics license application filing, possibly in the first quarter of 2009. (BioWorld Today)