Batavia Biosciences and Valneva Sweden have entered into a collaboration agreement to accelerate market-access of a low-cost inactivated polio vaccine (IPV). This work is supported under GPEI.
In 2019, Batavia received a grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to use its novel, low-cost vaccine manufacturing process HIP-Vax™, in combination with Nevoline™ manufacturing equipment developed by Univercells, to deliver clinical grade IPV bulks to selected Developing Country Vaccine Manufacturers (DCVMs) for phase I/II clinical studies. The IPV vaccine is based on the Sabin vaccine strains (sIPV), which Batavia has successfully obtained from the World Health Organization (WHO).
Under the terms of the agreement, Valneva will manufacture the sIPV vaccine for clinical trial purposes in its state-of-the-art GMP polio manufacturing facility operated under GAPIII2 polio containment in Solna, Sweden, using Batavia’s process. In return, Valneva will receive an upfront payment and monthly service fees.
Batavia will remain responsible for release and supply of the GMP vaccine to the DCVMs. The know-how generated will be made available to the DCVMs to facilitate transfer of the technology and manufacture of the vaccine under GAPIII conditions in the future.
Batavia will remain responsible for release and supply of the GMP vaccine to the DCVMs. The know-how generated will be made available to the DCVMs to facilitate transfer of the technology and manufacture of the vaccine under GAPIII conditions in the future.
“As a company focusing on high unmet medical needs, Valneva is proud to make another important contribution to polio eradication through this agreement with Batavia. Our site and team in Sweden has significant experience working with poliovirus. This new contract underscores Valneva’s technical expertise in clinical manufacturing and bio-risk management,” Thomas Lingelbach, CEO, Valneva, said.
“We are excited to be working with Valneva, who can leverage their GAPIII polio facility and polio know-how to accelerate the development of this important vaccine as well as offering an important step forward in the application of our HIP-Vax™ technology for vaccine manufacture,” Chris Yallop, COO, Batavia Biosciences, said.