Grant: Collaborative Science, Technology and Innovation Program - Collaborative R&D Initiatives
The Royal Institution for the Advancement of Learning/McGill University
$229,983.00
Bioprocessing for viral vectored vaccines: an accelerated development approach leading to cGMP manufacturing of candidate vaccines for COVID-19
FY 2020-21 · 2020-11-06
Summary
Scientists and public health authorities worldwide are making an unprecedented collaborative effort to understand and develop effective interventions for the control and prevention of SARS-CoV-2. Vaccination remains the most efficient medical intervention to counteract the pandemic. Viral vaccines have been the most effective in protecting against viral infections. Vectored-vaccine candidates are among the most advanced SARS-CoV-2 in the 38 clinical evaluations (WHO, Draft landscape of COVID-19 candidate vaccines, Sept. 24, 2020). One such platform is using the recombinant Vesicular Stomatitis Virus (rVSV), which is replication competent and is known to induce both cellular and humoral host immune response against foreign antigens. VSV-based vaccine vectors, which, as enveloped viruses, are designed to incorporate glycoprotein antigens into their viral lipid membrane and thus display the antigen on the virus surface, in addition to expressing it upon entry into the target cell. Another important viral vector platform that has been extensively evaluated in preclinical and clinical trials as an onco-therapeutic agent is the Newcastle disease virus (NDV), an avian virus that has several well-suited properties for development of a safe vector vaccine against SARS-CoV-2. Both vectored-vaccine platforms demonstrated good safety profiles and in the case of VSV it has been successfully used for vaccination in emergency situations such as Ebola outbreaks. This Project focus on accelerating vaccine manufacture processes by using a producing cell line compatible with cGMP operations and industrialization to address the challenges posed by large scale manufacturing. The accelerated development the proposed robust technology platform will enable higher and faster accessibility to these class of vectored vaccines in situations of pandemic and contribute to building long lasting capacities in Canada.
Department
Program
Collaborative Science, Technology and Innovation Program - Collaborative R&D Initiatives
Location
Montreal|Montréal, Quebec, Canada
Recipient Type
Academia
Business Number
119128981
Type
Grant
Source
Proactive Disclosure - Grants and Contributions
As published
Reference Number
172-2021-2022-Q3-961152
Amendment Number
2
Amendment Date
2021-11-04
Agreement Type
Grant
Recipient Type
S
Recipient Business Number
119128981
Recipient Legal Name
The Royal Institution for the Advancement of Learning/McGill University
Recipient Country
CA
Recipient Province or Territory
QC
Recipient City
Montreal|Montréal
Recipient Postal Code
H3A 0G4
Federal Riding
Ville-Marie–Le Sud-Ouest–Île-des-Sœurs
Federal Riding (French)
Ville-Marie–Le Sud-Ouest–Île-des-Soeurs
Federal Riding Number
24077
Program Name
Collaborative Science, Technology and Innovation Program - Collaborative R&D Initiatives
Program Name (French)
Programme de collaboration en science, en technologie et en innovation - Initiatives de collaboration en R-D
Program Purpose
Collaborate on multiparty research and development programs to catalyze transformative, high-risk, high-reward research with the potential for game-changing scientific discoveries and technological breakthroughs in priority areas.
Program Purpose (French)
Collaborer à des programmes multipartites de recherche-développement dans le but de profiter de la synergie entre la recherche transformatrice à haut risque et à haut rendement et le potentiel de découvertes scientifiques et de percées technologiques révolutionnaires dans des secteurs d’intervention prioritaires.
Agreement Title
Bioprocessing for viral vectored vaccines: an accelerated development approach leading to cGMP manufacturing of candidate vaccines for COVID-19
Agreement Title (French)
Biotransformation de vaccins à vecteur viral : méthode accélérée de développement qui aboutira aux bonnes pratiques de fabrication courantes (BPF) pour la production des futurs vaccins contre la COVID-19
Agreement Number
961152
Agreement Value
$229,983.00
Agreement Start Date
2020-11-06
Agreement End Date
2022-03-31
Description
Scientists and public health authorities worldwide are making an unprecedented collaborative effort to understand and develop effective interventions for the control and prevention of SARS-CoV-2. Vaccination remains the most efficient medical intervention to counteract the pandemic. Viral vaccines have been the most effective in protecting against viral infections. Vectored-vaccine candidates are among the most advanced SARS-CoV-2 in the 38 clinical evaluations (WHO, Draft landscape of COVID-19 candidate vaccines, Sept. 24, 2020). One such platform is using the recombinant Vesicular Stomatitis Virus (rVSV), which is replication competent and is known to induce both cellular and humoral host immune response against foreign antigens. VSV-based vaccine vectors, which, as enveloped viruses, are designed to incorporate glycoprotein antigens into their viral lipid membrane and thus display the antigen on the virus surface, in addition to expressing it upon entry into the target cell. Another important viral vector platform that has been extensively evaluated in preclinical and clinical trials as an onco-therapeutic agent is the Newcastle disease virus (NDV), an avian virus that has several well-suited properties for development of a safe vector vaccine against SARS-CoV-2. Both vectored-vaccine platforms demonstrated good safety profiles and in the case of VSV it has been successfully used for vaccination in emergency situations such as Ebola outbreaks. This Project focus on accelerating vaccine manufacture processes by using a producing cell line compatible with cGMP operations and industrialization to address the challenges posed by large scale manufacturing. The accelerated development the proposed robust technology platform will enable higher and faster accessibility to these class of vectored vaccines in situations of pandemic and contribute to building long lasting capacities in Canada.
Description (French)
Dans le monde entier, des scientifiques et les autorités responsables de la santé publique collaborent d’une manière sans précédent pour voir comment on pourrait combattre et prévenir l’infection au SRAS-CoV-2, et mettre en place des mesures efficaces pour y arriver. Actuellement, la vaccination demeure la meilleure intervention pour contrer la pandémie sur le plan médical. Les vaccins à base de virus confèrent la protection la plus efficace contre les viroses. Parmi les 38 évaluations cliniques en cours, ce sont les vaccins à base de vecteur viral qui figurent parmi les candidats les plus avancés pour lutter contre le SRAS-CoV-2 (OMS, Draft landscape of COVID-19 candidate vaccines, 24 septembre 2020). Une plateforme, par exemple, recourt au virus de la stomatite vésiculaire recombiné (VSVr), capable de se répliquer et de déclencher chez l’hôte une réaction immune cellulaire et humorale contre les antigènes étrangers. À l’instar des virus à enveloppe, le VSV employé comme vecteur dans le vaccin intègre des glycoprotéines antigéniques dans sa membrane lipidique, donc présente l’antigène en surface, en plus d’en assurer l’expression à l’intérieur de la cellule cible, après y avoir pénétré. Une autre importante plateforme à vecteur viral évaluée dans le cadre de vastes essais précliniques et cliniques en tant qu’agent oncothérapeutique est le virus de la maladie de Newcastle (VMN). Ce virus aviaire présente plusieurs propriétés intéressantes en vue de l’élaboration d’un vaccin à vecteur viral sûr contre le SRAS-CoV-2. Ces deux plateformes se démarquent par un bon profil sur le plan de l’innocuité. Le VSV, notamment, a remporté du succès lors de campagnes de vaccination d’urgence comme les éclosions de virus Ebola. Le projet accélérera les procédés de fabrication du vaccin par l’usage d’une lignée cellulaire qui se prête bien aux BPFc et à l’industrialisation, afin de surmonter les difficultés de la production massive. La robuste plateforme technologique envisagée pour accélérer le développement rendra les vaccins à vecteur viral plus accessibles, plus rapidement aussi, en cas de pandémie et facilitera l’implantation de capacités de production durables au Canada.
NAICS Code
541710
Expected Results
In the short term, anticipated outcomes will be strengthened collaborations across industry, academia, and government to support research excellence. In the medium term, anticipated outcomes will be the development of new and potentially disruptive technologies with collaborators. In the long term, find collaborative solutions to public policy challenges and create stronger innovation systems.
Expected Results (French)
À court terme, les résultats prévus seront des collaborations renforcées entre l'industrie, le milieu universitaire et le gouvernement pour soutenir l'excellence en recherche. À moyen terme, les résultats attendus seront le développement de nouvelles technologies potentiellement perturbatrices avec des collaborateurs. À long terme, trouver des solutions collaboratives aux défis des politiques publiques et créer des systèmes d'innovation plus solides.
Additional Information
This agreement has been amended 1 time(s). The total amended value is 229,983 dollars
Additional Information (French)
Cet accord a été modifié 1 fois. La valeur totale des modifications est de 229 983 dollars.
Organization Code
nrc-cnrc
Organization
National Research Council Canada | Conseil national de recherches Canada