Chiron: Vaccine retreat wasn't the end

Chiron Corp.'s last vaccine play was to pull its trivalent DTaP vaccine from registration because three similar products already were marketed. But last week CHIR found a way to monetize its DTaP investment by providing the antigens to Rhein Biotech N.V. for use in a pentavalent vaccine that can provide higher margins.

Three other diphtheria, pertussis, and tetanus vaccines are marketed by GlaxoSmithKline plc (GSK; LSE:GSK, London, U.K.); Aventis Pasteur (SWX:AVE, Strasbourg, France); and Wyeth-Ayerst (Radnor, Penn.). Concluding that the resources required to enter the marketplace outstripped the potential returns, CHIR last year chose to pull its DTaP vaccine from registration...