Ingenza Achieves COVID-19 Vax Milestone

Ingenza Ltd. has achieved a milestone in the development and manufacture of a more cost-effective vaccine against SARS-CoV-2. Ingenza is working with researchers at Oxford University and the UK CPI, Wilton, for the efficient production, using engineered yeast, of the receptor-binding domain (RBD) of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. When displayed on a novel virus-like particle (VLP) – developed and produced by the Oxford team also using a recombinant microbe – the resulting prototype vaccine elicits a powerful immunogenic response in mouse studies.

The results stem from Ingenza’s unique combination of bioprocessing and molecular biology expertise. Downstream assays are now underway to validate and optimize the production technology for preclinical testing and, if successful, will lead to a new and more cost-effective fully-microbial biomanufacturing platform to support rapid scale-up and high adaptability for future vaccine needs.

Ian Fotheringham, Managing Director of Ingenza, said, “It is a huge privilege to be involved with our collaborators on this project and the progress we are making is extremely positive and exciting. We are proud to be applying our expertise in sustainable and cost-effective biomanufacturing to this global crisis and look forward to helping the world’s scientists develop a novel COVID-19 vaccine.”