Genetic Engineering News
March 1, 2011
- A d v e r t i s e m e n t
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The HHS awarded two contracts totaling $215 million for advanced development of next-generation recombinant influenza vaccines. Novavax will receive $97 million over the first three years, which can be extended for an additional two years, for a total contract value of $179.1 million. HHS awarded a separate contract to VaxInnate for $117.9 million over the first three years, which can be extended for two additional years, for a total contract value of $196.6 million.
“The 2009 H1N1 pandemic demonstrated the need for technologies that can provide vaccines more rapidly,” notes HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius. “These next-generation flu vaccines hold the potential to be even more effective and to make the first and last doses of vaccine available sooner than existing flu vaccines by weeks and months, which can save more lives during a pandemic as well as during seasonal flu outbreaks.”
Under its contract Novavax is to develop new technology to produce vaccines using insect cells to express influenza proteins and create virus-like particles that stimulate a strong immune response in humans. VaxInnate is developing a recombinant influenza vaccine technology based on combining influenza and bacteria proteins to stimulate strong immune response to protect against the flu. These next-generation recombinant influenza vaccines were supported in early stages by the NIH and are expected to complement currently available and other new influenza vaccines.
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