Solvay cell-based vaccine facility validated
Solvay believes that eliminating reliance on the availability of embryonated chicken eggs, which could be in shorts supply in a bird-flu outbreak, will improve its ability to produce vaccines. Furthermore, the vaccines will be an alternative for people allergic to chicken proteins.
From the facility Solvay will produce vaccines for seasonal and pandemic influenza. Achieving validation represents a boost for Solvay’s business, which lost out on a contract to supply the Netherlands with H1N1 vaccine because it was unable to meet the production timeline.
Despite missing out on the Dutch contract Solvay began to produce clinical batches of H1N1 antigens at the recently validated 3,900 sq m facility in Weesp, the Netherlands in late August.
From mid-September this will be supplemented by Solvay’s egg-based facility which is due to commence H1N1 antigen production for feasibility studies once it stops manufacturing seasonal vaccines.
By operating the egg-based and cell-based facilities Solvay believes it has the production capacity to meet global need for seasonal vaccines and the flexibility to respond to rising demand for pandemic vaccines.
Solvay will make revisions to its pandemic influenza vaccine plan based on numerous factors, including the outcome of feasibility studies and future guidelines from health authorities.
Russian registration
Solvay Pharmaceuticals has registered the first trivalent adjuvant cell-based seasonal influenza in Russia. The product, called Grippol Neo, is the result of long-standing cooperation with Russia based Petrovax.
Grippol Neo is based on influenza antigens produced by Solvay at its cell-based facility and Petrovax’s proprietary adjuvant Polyoxidonium. This creates a preservation free vaccine that is being formulated at Petrovax’s facility near Moscow, Russia.
