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Rapid method for generating safe live attenuated vaccines for viral disease prevention

Country of Origin: Singapore
Reference Number: TOSG20190114002
Publication Date: 14 January 2019

Summary

A Singapore-based institute has developed a rapid and reliable method for generating safe live attenuated vaccines (LAVs). Traditionally, attenuated strains are developed through serial passage in cell lines or in animals. This chance discovery can take years with no guarantee of success. With this new technology, it takes just 10 weeks for generation of a suitable LAV candidate. 

The institute seeks to partner SMEs, MNEs and healthcare organisations via license or research agreements.

Description

Live attenuated vaccines (LAVs) are viable pathogens (including viruses) with a reduced virulence. These vaccines are effective in preventing several human viral diseases, such as smallpox, chickenpox, measles, mumps, rubella, and yellow fever. In fact, they are considered more effective than inactivated vaccines.

Typically, these attenuated strains are mostly accidental discoveries when serially passaged in cell culture or in animals. This method of vaccine development can take years and is unreliable, that is, it may or may not be successful, and significant costs are associated with it. With technology advances, targeted site-directed mutagenesis is used more recently to develop these attenuated strains. However, they have not been translated into vaccines for human use. It remains a challenge to quickly identify attenuated strains suitable for vaccine development.

The technology for generating LAVs developed by the Singapore research institute addresses these challenges.
Isolating wild-type viral strains and generating a suitable LAV takes just 10 weeks. This is a significantly shorter time frame compared to conventional methods.

This new technology was used to generate ZIKV LAV to target at the Zika virus. This LAV was tested to be safe and immunogenic and reduced mortality when tested in animals. This technology can be used for rapid manufacturing of safe and effective LAVs against other infectious diseases, such as respiratory syncytial virus infection, dengue and also for animal viral diseases.

The research institute is keen to work with SMEs, MNEs and healthcare organisations through:

i) Licensing where the partner could commercialise and introduce it its market segments.

ii) Research cooperation agreements where both parties cos collaboration to research or co-develop further in addressing the specific needs of the market.

Advantages and Innovations

•	The technology generates LAVs in just 10 weeks (time from wild-type viral strain isolation to the generation of a right LAV candidate), whereas the traditional method can take years. This can reduce significant research and development costs. 

• Faster development of vaccines can prevent diseases reaching epidemic proportions and reduces the burden of infectious diseases.

• While the traditional method of vaccine development is unreliable with hit-or-miss outcomes, this technology is dependable.

• The LAV generated is safe and immunogenic

Stage Of Development

Under development/lab tested

Requested partner

The institute is seeking partnerships with all sizes of SMEs, MNEs or healthcare organisations through:

i) Licensing agreement - The partner would license the technology to commercialise and bring it to market.

ii) Research cooperation agreements - The partner and the institute could undertake a joint effort to further develop this technology in addressing specific needs of the market.

Cooperation offer ist closed for requests