Avecia to develop anthrax vaccine with increased stability
UK-based Avecia Biotechnology has received a US$3.9m grant from the US Government to develop a version of Thraxine, an rPA (recombinant Protective Antigen)-based anthrax vaccine, with increased stability.
UK-based Avecia Biotechnology has received a US$3.9m grant from the US Government to develop a version of Thraxine, an rPA (recombinant Protective Antigen)-based anthrax vaccine, with increased stability.
Due for completion by April 2008, and using leading-edge technologies, the programme aims to develop a version of Thraxine that can be stored, transported and used without the need for a conventional cold chain. Improved temperature stability will simplify storage and transport and prolong shelf life, which could also reduce the overall cost of large-scale vaccine provision.
rPA vaccine (Thraxine) is designed to induce immunity to infection from inhaled anthrax in a three-dose treatment cycle over several weeks. rPA is a protein found in the anthrax bacterium and which is made in E coli using recombinant technology. The rPA is adsorbed onto an alum adjuvant before use. The anthrax bacterium is not present in the vaccine and anthrax cannot be caused by or contracted from the vaccine, its production process or any material associated with the process.
The grant has been made to Avecia by the US National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), an agency of the US Department of Health & Human Services. The requirement for an anthrax vaccine is being driven by the US Government for emergency use in the event of an anthrax-based attack on the US civil population. The latest NIAID award follows a $71m contract awarded to Avecia in September 2003 for ongoing development of rPA vaccine.
"The NIAID grant allows us to bring together an innovative vaccines technology team to develop a "next generation" anthrax vaccine which could have technology benefits for the wider vaccines sector," said Avecia's vaccines business manager Kevin Price.
Four other companies are collaborating with Avecia on the new programme:
- Cambridge Biostability - glassification technology
- Defence Science and Technology Laboratories (Dstl) - microencapsulation technology
- Lyosolutions - freeze drying
- XstalBio - crystallisation technology