Dr. Andrew Lees, Scientific Director of Fina BioSolutions LLC, giving a seminar at IVI
July 9, 2019, Seoul, South Korea -Dr. Andrew Lees, Scientific Director of Fina BioSolutions LLC, gave a seminar today at IVI headquarters about the road towards affordable conjugate vaccines.
During the seminar funded by the ChongKunDang Kochon Foundation, Lees discussed how efficient chemistry, an affordable CRM197 carrier protein, and supporting new entrants into the market can make space for more affordable conjugate vaccines.
You can find the abstract below.
Dr. Andrew Lees, giving a seminar at IVI about the road towards affordable conjugate vaccines
Abstract: Towards Affordable Conjugate Vaccines: Efficient Chemistry, Affordable CRM197 Carrier Protein and Supporting New Entrants
Conjugate vaccines to prevent S. pneumonia, Haemophilus influenzae type b, and meningococcal disease have been very effective at reducing disease. Many additional conjugate vaccines are under development, including ones in diverse areas such as malaria transmission-blocking, anti-cancer, anthrax and drug addiction. Among pediatric vaccines, conjugates are some of the most complex and expensive vaccines to produce, resulting in a high financial burden, especially for lesser-developed countries and vaccine funders such as the Global Alliance for Vaccines.
A limited number of suppliers reduces competition, frequently allowing for near-monopoly style pricing. Efficient manufacturing methodologies can help to reduce costs and increase vaccine supply.
Of the three commonly used conjugation chemistries –i.e.: cyanogen bromide, reductive amination and CDAP, CDAP gives the highest yields. High yields with CDAP chemistry can be achieved with a good understanding of the chemistry and the use of Design of Experiment to optimize multiple variables.
Another costly element of conjugate vaccines is the widely used carrier protein, CRM197, which traditionally has been produced in Corynebacteria at low yield. Commercially available CRM197 has been too expensive for many researchers, inhibiting R&D work. We have achieved high expression levels of soluble, properly-folded CRM197 in E. coli (EcoCRM), resulting in low cost CRM197. “EcoCRM”, economical CRM from E. coli, can reduce the cost of conjugate vaccine research as well as the price of the clinical product.