Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
    Facebook Instagram Threads
    Global BiodefenseGlobal Biodefense
    Subscribe
    • Featured News
    • Funding
    • Directory
    • Jobs
    • Events
    Global BiodefenseGlobal Biodefense
    Contracts + Grants

    Flublok Vaccine Gets $56M Funding Option

    By Global Biodefense StaffJune 17, 2014
    Vaccines Research, Development & Manufacturing
    Share
    Facebook LinkedIn Reddit Email

    Protein Sciences Corporation, a vaccine development and protein production company based in Meriden, Conn., this week announced the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has exercised a contract option to support development, scale-up and expanded licensure of the company’s influenza vaccine, Flublok (seasonal) and Panblok (pandemic).

    The contract Option Period 2 has a budget of $50.6 million and will run through December 31, 2015.  The total value of the contract, originally awarded in 2009, is $146.9 million.

    The funding is administered through the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), which supported the initial licensure of Flublok, which was approved by FDA in January 2013.

    Flublok is the only flu vaccine made in a 100% egg-free system using modern cell culture technology, making it unnecessary to use an infectious influenza virus or antibiotics in manufacturing.  Flublok is highly purified and does not contain any preservatives (e.g., thimerosal, a mercury derivative), egg proteins, gelatin or latex.  In addition, Flublok is triple the strength of conventional influenza vaccines.  Flublok is a perfect copy of the virus coat and is not subject to the egg-adapted mutations associated with low vaccine effectiveness.

    The Option Period 2 funds will support licensure of Protein Sciences’ newly acquired larger-scale manufacturing facility in Pearl River, New York that manufactures Flublok and is planned to have the capacity to produce 50 million doses of Panblok within 6 months of declaration of a pandemic as required by the BARDA contract.  The funds will also be used for clinical studies to support licensure of Panblok and a quadrivalent formulation of Flublok.

    The recombinant technology used to make Flublok and Panblok offers a platform for pandemic preparedness: the vaccines can be made safely, accurately and much faster than they could by using legacy technologies.

    “We are fortunate to have been able to build a strong partnership with BARDA,” said Manon Cox, President and CEO of Protein Sciences. “An analysis of past pandemics revealed that vaccines were available too late and in short supply. Recombinant technology such as that used to make Flublok and Panblok ensures abundant vaccines with the correct sequence are available when they are needed.”

    ASPR Awards BARDA HHS Influenza Pandemic
    Share. Facebook LinkedIn Reddit Email
    Previous ArticleBARDA Announces Milestone in Influenza Countermeasures
    Next Article InvestMaryland Backs Cellphire’s Thermostable Blood Products

    Related Stories

    Jurata Thin Film and CastleVax Awarded Grant to Advance Thermostabilized COVID-19 Booster

    September 20, 2023

    Healthcare Workers Express Outrage at Flawed CDC Mask Guidance

    September 18, 2023

    Mount Sinai to Lead Development of Pan-Coronavirus Vaccine Under New Federal Grant

    September 17, 2023

    NIAID Seeks to Improve Computational Models of Influenza Immunity

    September 15, 2023
    News Scan

    Biodefense Headlines – 19 September 2023

    News Scan September 19, 2023

    News highlights on health security threats and countermeasures curated by Global Biodefense This week’s selections include a global survey of gain-of-function research; funding of an mRNA mpox vaccine; Nipah virus outbreak in India; field detection of threat agents with acoustic…

    Upcoming Events

    Oct 3
    Virtual Event Virtual Event
    October 3 - October 5

    OneLab Summit 2023

    Oct 3
    Virtual Event Virtual Event
    12:00 pm - 2:00 pm EDT

    Public-Private Partnerships to Distribute, Dispense, and Administer Medical Countermeasures

    Oct 4
    Virtual Event Virtual Event
    10:00 am - 2:00 pm EDT

    Tunneling Nanotubes and Intracellular Protrusions Workshop

    Oct 12
    Virtual Event Virtual Event
    12:00 pm - 2:00 pm EDT

    Public-Private Partnerships for Acceptance and Uptake of Medical Countermeasures

    View Calendar

    Subscribe to Global Biodefense

    Get the latest news on pathogens and preparedness

    © 2023 Stemar Media Group LLC
    • About
    • Contact
    • Privacy
    • Subscribe

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.