Calixar and VirPath develop innovative manufacturing process for high performance influenza vaccines
New antigens formulation against pandemic flu is six times more effective than other vaccines, companies say
Calixar, a French start-up company based in Lyon that provides services focused on membrane proteins, and VirPath, an academic lab specialising in the study of influenza viruses, claim to have made a breakthrough in the manufacturing of high performance vaccines against flu viruses.
Calixar says it has developed a technology and chemistry to split the membranes of the viruses.
The partners’ first new formulation of vaccine antigens is directed against the A H1N1 virus, also known as pandemic flu. The formulation showed high quality and performance compared with the blockbuster vaccines already on the market, the companies say. VirPath’s egg-derived antigens formulations are said to be at least six times more active than marketed vaccines, in terms of haemagglutinin immunogenicity and in vivo protection.
'We achieved these results by using Calixar’s technology,' said Dr Manuel Rosa-Calatrava, Deputy Director of VirPath. 'Vaccination against flu is of major importance to public health. Our improved vaccine production processes will closely support that goal.'
Emmanuel Dejean, Chairman and CEO of Calixar, said the company would make the influenza technology available for licensing early next year.
'We are also looking at other applications in the vaccine industry using the same chemistry and biochemistry approaches,' said Delean.
The partners are also working on the native isolation of other antigens and preparing for the future development of universal vaccines, particularly against influenza.
