MassBiologics grants licensing agreement to Merck for tetanus-diphtheria vaccine

BOSTON A biotech developer owned by the University of Massachusetts Medical School has granted drug maker Merck exclusive U.S. rights to its tetanus and diphtheria vaccine, Merck announced Wednesday.

MassBiologics said it had signed a licensing agreement with Merck that would grant the Whitehouse Station, N.J.-based drug maker rights to market and distribute its tetanus and diphtheria toxoids adsorbed vaccine in the United States, with the exception of Massachusetts, where MBL will continue distributing it. Merck plans to begin distributing the vaccine in June. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

“Adult vaccination is an important element in Merck’s commitment to help people be well, and we are delighted to partner with MBL to add tetanus-diphtheria vaccine to our broad U.S. portfolio of adult vaccines,” Merck Vaccines SVP and general manager for adolescent and adult vaccines Soren Bo Christiansen said.

The Food and Drug Administration licensed MBL’s Td vaccine in 1970.