GSK buys Switzerland-based Okairos

LONDON — British drug maker GlaxoSmithKline has acquired Swiss vaccine development company Okairos for $325 million, GSK said Wednesday.

Privately owned Okairos develops technologies used to create vaccines, and GSK said it would use them in the development of the "next generation" of vaccines for preventing infections and for treatment of infections and diseases, saying it would allow the development of the "next generation.

"This is a fantastic opportunity for patients and our research organization as it is expected to contribute to the development efforts for an exciting new generation of vaccines, building on the excellent science and expertise of both companies," GSK Vaccines president Christophe Weber said.

Okairos' work focuses on diseases like respiratory syncytial virus, hepatitis C, malaria, tuberculosis, ebola and HIV.