The Finnish multinational will use the active substance and the pharmaceutical product provided by 3PBIOVIAN to develop a mucosal immune response in nasopharyngeal cells. These usually act as the main entry point for the virus. From there, the collaboration between the two companies will allow the former to take the clinical studies of its intranasal vaccine FINCoVac 2.1 to Phase I.
Rokote Laboratories is one of the world’s leading specialists in advanced vaccine technologies, with a particular focus on intranasal vaccines that induce mucosal immunity. Using adenoviral vector technologies, it aims to ‘improve the efficacy and safety of vaccines’. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the company developed ‘a nasal spray vaccine, an easy-to-administer, non-invasive option, complementary to existing vaccines’.
The agreement with 3PBIOVIAN covers the GMP manufacture of the Ad5 vector for Phase I clinical trials, using the company’s standard process at its facilities in Turku, Finland. In response to Rokote’s ‘urgent needs’, the programme moved towards GMP production with ‘exceptional speed’, thanks to 3PBIOVIAN’s extensive experience in adenovirus-based processes.
ASSESSMENT OF THE AGREEMENT
‘We are delighted to partner with 3PBIOVIAN for the manufacture of our next-generation intranasal COVID-19 vaccine. Their ability to use standardised processes for rapid GMP batch production, coupled with their vast experience in adenoviruses, makes them an ideal partner. We look forward to moving forward together in the development of Finnish vaccines,’ said Erkko Ylösmäki, CEO of Rokote Laboratories.
Dámaso Molero, CEO of 3PBIOVIAN, underlined the importance of the collaboration: ‘It is an honour that Rokote Laboratories has chosen us to manufacture their innovative adenovirus-based candidate. The combination of 3P Biopharmaceuticals and Biovian enables us to offer high-tech therapeutic solutions, as in this case.
Antti Nieminen, deputy CEO of 3PBIOVIAN, added: ‘With two decades of experience in viral vector process development and adenovirus production under GMP standards, we are proud to be involved in the development of this second-generation coronavirus vaccine, moving it towards clinical trials’.
3PBIOVIAN is one of the main players in Navarra’s biomedical ecosystem. The industry employs 31,508 people in the region. Most of them work in healthcare services (27,981), although we should also highlight the 2,465 jobs linked to the health industry and the 1,065 researchers. In one of our last reports, we detailed the level of growth and the growing strength that this sector is achieving in its efforts to become a benchmark at European level. This is detailed in this link.
Fuente: Navarra Capital