Virology & Mycology
Open Access
ISSN: 2161-0517
ISSN: 2161-0517
Manon M J Cox
Protein Sciences, USA
Keynote: Virol Mycol
Flublok is FDA approved for the prevention of influenza in adults 18 and older. Flublok is the first recombinant hemagglutinin influenza vaccine and is produced using the baculovirus-insect cell technology. This production platform provides an attractive alternative to the current egg-based influenza vaccine manufacturing process for a multitude of reasons including speed, scale-ability, cost and independence on eggs. The key advantage of this recombinant protein manufacturing platform is that a universal â??plug and playâ? process enables manufacturing of new vaccine candidates within a matter of months while offering the potential for low manufacturing costs. Globally large scale mammalian cell culture facilities previously established for the manufacturing of monoclonal antibodies could be deployed for the manufacturing of vaccines in the event of an emergency or alternatively, manufacturing capacity could be established in geographic regions that do not have any vaccine production capability. Dependent on health care priorities, different vaccines could be manufactured in such facilities while maintaining the ability to rapidly convert to producing pandemic influenza vaccine when the need arise. The speaker will provide an update on the global manufacturing capacity established specifically for Flublok and present recently obtained comparative efficacy data demonstrating that Flublok is more effective than traditional vaccine in protecting older adults against mismatched influenza viruses.
Manon M J Cox is currently the President and Chief Executive Officer of Protein Sciences. She has received many honors and awards recognizing her stature as a Leader in innovation and influenza including receiving a Doctorate in Humane Letters honoris causa from St. Joseph University and in 2015 elected as a Fellow of the International Society of Vaccines. She holds a Doctorate degree from the University of Wageningen, received her MBA with distinction from the University of Nijenrode and the University of Rochester, NY and holds a Doctorandus degree in Molecular Biology, Genetics and Biochemistry from the University of Nijmegen, Netherlands.