NEWARK, Del.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--New technologies to produce vaccines more safely, quickly and economically than traditional approaches are featured at the New Cells, New Vaccines VI: Target to Market international scientific conference, currently underway through March 28 in Wilmington, Delaware, at the Hotel du Pont.
Leading scientists, business leaders and regulatory agency representatives from around the world are gathered for the scientific conference to exchange information on bringing life-saving vaccines and antibodies to market more quickly through innovative manufacturing processes. At the conference, world-leading scientists will share how these advances significantly impact responsiveness to life-threatening infectious disease epidemics and bioterrorism threats.
The event is hosted by plant-based vaccine production pioneer, Fraunhofer USA Center for Molecular Biotechnology (CMB), located at the Delaware Technology Park in Newark, Delaware, and is organized under the auspices of the International Association for Biological Standardization (IABS), headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland.
New Advances in Vaccine Production Proven Safe, Efficient and Effective
With the growing global demand for vaccines and other biologics, development of new, alternative production technologies is critical. The latest advancements in protein production include the use of stem cell, insect cell and plant systems.
Fraunhofer CMB has recently confirmed interim results of safety and immunogenicity from the first human trial of plant-produced H1N1 influenza vaccine (HAC1) and with support from the U.S. Department of Defense, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, iBio, Inc. and Biomanguinhos in Brazil, Fraunhofer CMB is also working to develop vaccines against malaria, sleeping sickness, anthrax and yellow fever.
“As an example, when it comes to influenza unlike the current egg-based approach, which could take up to six months for turnaround in times of a pandemic,” Fraunhofer USA CMB Executive Director Vidadi Yusibov, PhD explained, “our plant-based approach offers substantially reduced production time. Also, we estimate that capital infrastructure cost for producing vaccines in plants is significantly less than traditional manufacturing methods.”
“Through the conference, Dr. Yusibov added, “we hope to exchange information about these developments and spur collaboration for additional discoveries among representatives from academic research and the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries.
With a focus on getting to market, topics to be discussed during the three-day conference include progress through clinical trials, technology transfer, and regulatory considerations for new technologies.
The agenda and registration information is available online at www.ncnv.org.
About Fraunhofer USA Center for Molecular Biotechnology
Fraunhofer USA CMB, a division of Fraunhofer USA, Inc., is a not-for-profit research organization whose mission is to develop safe and effective vaccines targeting infectious diseases and autoimmune disorders. CMB’s technology provides a safe, rapid and economical alternative for vaccine production. The Center conducts research in the area of plant biotechnology, utilizing new, cutting edge technologies to assist the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of human and animal diseases. The Center houses individuals with expertise and excellence in plant virology, pathology, molecular biology, immunology, vaccinology, protein engineering, and biochemistry. Fraunhofer USA, Inc. is a subsidiary of Fraunhofer Gesellschaft, Europe’s largest organization for applied research. Further information is available at www.fraunhofer-cmb.org.
For press registration to attend the workshop or for additional information, contact: Dale Ervin, Fraunhofer USA CMB at 302-369-3034 or dervin@fraunhofer-cmb.org