Advanced manufacturing technology of virus like particles for vaccination

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Vaccination remains one of the most successful medical interventions to control diseases and contribute to the reduction of health care costs. Among the novel antigen presentation approaches, Virus-Like Particle (VLP) vaccines are one of the most promising approaches to respond to the constant threat of pandemic influenza strains. Among the platforms that can be used for the production of VLPs, the insect cell production platform has been garnering significant attention and acceptance by industry following the licensing of vaccines manufactured using this technology. This project uses a systems approach (both at the molecular and global levels: from gene to metabolome and from cell design to product purification) to put research on a material of interest (material systems accepted topics: virus-like particles) in the context of a manufacturing process. The work is well positioned for commercialization given the support of: Biogro Technologies, which have interest in the development of a fully defined medium for the insect cell technology platform; and Chenomx Inc., which want to develop algorithms to automate profiling of NMR spectra to make their platform suitable as a Process Analytical Technology used in biomanufacturing. More specifically, this work will address critical challenges associated with the manufacturing of enveloped VLPs using an insect cell/baculovirus expression system. The overall objective of the strategic project is to develop a robust and high-yielding insect cell culture process for the production of influenza VLPs with the specific target of large-scale industrial manufacturing. To achieve this goal: 1) a new insect cell culture expression system will be developed; 2) VLP yield will be optimized through rational media design and process intensification targeting a ten-fold increase over the current yield; 3) new purification methods and new process analytical technologies will be developed; and 4) the process and the quality attributes of the product will be documented to support technology transfer. Overall this project will contribute to building biomanufacturing capacity in Canada and will ultimately lead to Canada's ability to respond to the threat of emerging infectious diseases.