Vaccine candidate for newly emerged H7N9 influenza virus

iBio, Inc. has produced a vaccine candidate for the newly emerged H7N9 influenza virus by an independent third party laboratory using the iBioLaunch platform. This validation milestone was achieved in 21 days as measured from initial antigen sequence information to purification of recombinant protein.

The iBioLaunch platform eliminates the need to culture cells under sterile conditions, removes uncertainty about yield consistency for large volumes of production, and, subject to regulatory approval, could deliver vaccine doses for emergency use against pandemic and bioterrorism threats in weeks rather than the months necessary with the use of engineered or attenuated virus strains.  The iBioLaunch platform has been used previously to produce vaccine-quality antigens associated with a broad range of influenza strains including H7N7, H5N1, H3N2, H1N1, and various strains of influenza B.

These vaccine applications of the iBioLaunch platform are of particular interest to governments and state corporations that seek autonomy in the manufacture of critical biopharmaceuticals to protect their own populations.

The H7N9 influenza virus has killed 36 of 131 people reported to have been infected in China. The emergence of new influenza and other virus strains is a constant public health risk that is only partially addressed with commonly used technologies. Because of the slowness of conventional approaches to vaccine development and production, the only effective control measures currently employed in many circumstances involve patient isolation and supportive care.

iBio develops and offers product applications of its iBioLaunch and iBioModulator platforms, providing collaborators full support for turn-key implementation of its technology for both proprietary and biosimilar products.