Tonix Pharmaceuticals Holding Corp (NASDAQ: TNXP) has signed a Sale and Purchase Agreement to buy a research and development facility of around 48,000 sq. ft. in Frederic, MD. The acquisition will support the company’s growing infectious disease pipeline, smallpox, and monkeypox vaccine, TNX-801, a COVID-19 live replicating viral vaccine TNX-1800, and a SARS-CoV-2 inhibiting small-molecule antiviral, TNX-3500.
Tonix to use acquired facility to advance TNX-801 and TNX-1800
The company has agreed to buy the R&D facility from Southern Research, a research partner for developing the TNX-1800 and TNX-801. Already a biosafety level 2 containment is in place at the facility. Tonix expects the purchase to finalize and the plant to be operational in Q4 2021, pending the handover and approval of required licenses. On the other hand, Southern Research intends to centralize its research operations at its Birmingham, Alabama headquarters. Tonix and Southern Research want to continue working together to develop antivirals and vaccines at the campus.
Tonix CEO and President Seth Lederman said, “The Fredrick facility will be a major expansion of our R&D capabilities. We believe this facility will ensure adequate resources and capacity to support and grow our pipeline of vaccines and antiviral therapeutics. In addition, we view control of in-house facilities as a strategic capability to ensure the speed and efficiency with which we can develop vaccines and antiviral products in the future against known, emerging or novel pathogens.”
Tonix and Southern Research enhancing their partnership
Souther Research CEO said, “We are delighted that Tonix will be acquiring the Frederick research campus. This is another chapter in a robust partnership that will be made even stronger. We have enjoyed partnering with Tonix on TNX-1800 and TNX-801 vaccine projects and look forward to continued collaboration on these projects, as well as TNX-3500 with work performed at our Birmingham campus.”
