Merck Secures Evaxion Vaccine Candidate Through Licensing Agreement Valued at Up to $600 Million
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Sep 25 2025
0mins
Source: SeekingAlpha
Evaxion's Licensing Deal: Evaxion (EVAX) shares surged ~44% after announcing a licensing agreement with Merck (MRK) for its vaccine candidate EVX-B3, valued at up to ~$600M, including an upfront payment of $7.5M.
Future Development and Milestones: Merck will handle the further development of EVX-B3, which is in pre-clinical stages, and Evaxion could earn additional milestone payments totaling up to $592M, contingent on Merck's future decisions regarding another vaccine candidate, EVX-B2.
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Analyst Views on MRK
Wall Street analysts forecast MRK stock price to rise
16 Analyst Rating
11 Buy
5 Hold
0 Sell
Moderate Buy
Current: 119.240
Low
95.00
Averages
119.53
High
139.00
Current: 119.240
Low
95.00
Averages
119.53
High
139.00
About MRK
Merck & Co., Inc. is a global health care company that delivers health solutions through its prescription medicines, including biologic therapies, vaccines and animal health products. Its Pharmaceutical segment includes human health pharmaceutical and vaccine products. The Company sells its human health pharmaceutical products primarily to drug wholesalers and retailers, hospitals, government agencies and managed health care providers. It sells these human health vaccines primarily to physicians, wholesalers, distributors and government entities. Its Animal Health segment discovers, develops, manufactures and markets a range of veterinary pharmaceutical and vaccine products, as well as health management solutions and services, for the prevention, treatment and control of disease in all livestock and companion animal species. Its products include KEYTRUDA (pembrolizumab) injection, for intravenous use; WELIREG (belzutifan) tablets, for oral use; Ohtuvayre (ensifentrine) and others.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
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