Microscience

Microscience was a British biotechnology company specializing in the development of next-generation vaccines against infectious diseases. The company's core strength lay in its proprietary Signature-tagged mutagenesis (STM) technology, which allowed for the rapid identification of genes essential for bacterial survival within a host. This platform facilitated the design of live, attenuated oral vaccines that were intended to be safer and more effective than existing options. Microscience's portfolio featured advanced candidates for typhoid fever and traveler's diarrhea, alongside earlier-stage programs for Group B Streptococcus and meningitis. The company was acquired by Emergent BioSolutions in 2005 for approximately $35 million, serving as a key step in Emergent's diversification strategy.