Intravacc, a world leader in translational research and development of preventive and therapeutic vaccines, today announced the publication of a GMP (Good Manufacturing Practices) manufacturing and formulation process for a monovalent semi-synthetic conjugate vaccine candidate against Shigella flexneri 2a (SF2a). This candidate vaccine was developed at the Institut Pasteur (Paris, France) and the GMP process is described in the peer reviewed scientific journal ACS Central Science of the American Chemical Society, in a paper entitled "The first-in-human synthetic glycan-based conjugate vaccine candidate against Shigella".

SF2a is a species of enteric bacteria that causes disease in humans. The disease caused by the ingestion of the Shigella bacteria is referred to as shigellosis, which is associated with diarrhea.

This publication discloses the yet unreported feasibility of the GMP synthesis of conjugate vaccines featuring a unique homogenous synthetic glycan hapten fine-tuned to protect against infectious disease. The scale-up feasibility of the bioconjugation step under GMP conditions resulted in a high yielding process and a reproducible and controllable SF2a vaccine production process. Preclinical and clinical batches for polysaccharide conjugate vaccines and (non-)compendial tests, complying with ICH guidelines and WHO recommendations, were produced. The obtained synthetic glycan-based conjugate vaccine passed all toxicity-related criteria, was immunogenic in rabbits and elicited bactericidal antibodies against SF2a in mice. The induced IgG serum antibodies recognized a large panel of SF2a circulating strains.

The results of the first-in-human trial for the SF2a semi-synthetic glycan-based conjugate vaccine candidate developed at the Institut Pasteur demonstrated safety and immunogenicity. Achievements of the development of this candidate SF2a vaccine are part of Stopenterics, a European consortium which has received funding from the European Community's Seventh Framework Programme (FP7/2007-2013).

An age descending phase IIa trial to investigate the safety and immunogenicity of this SF2a vaccine candidate in the infant target population in endemic countries was initiated in 2020 (clinicaltrials.gov NCT04602975). The estimated completion date is expected in Q3 2023.

Dr. Jan Groen, Intravacc's CEO, said, "This is Intravacc's second successful development of a GMP manufacturing process for a conjugate vaccine based on Tetanus. Our first conjugate vaccine for Haemophilus influenza type b (Hib) was transferred to international partners worldwide and has been on the market for several years now."